11/30/2012 11670

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING SPECIALIST 1

DEFINITION: This is professional work in transportation planning and programming in the Department of Transportation involving highway, mass transit, aviation, rail freight, port, or waterway systems.

An employee in this job participates in the development and maintenance of statewide, regional, or district-wide transportation plans and programs. Work involves participating in the development of project program schedules, funding plans, and budgets; preparing applicable reports; collecting, validating, analyzing, and projecting transportation planning and programming data; assigning traffic volumes to proposed highway locations; validating aviation demand forecasts at statewide airport locations; providing strategic management support; performing highway functional classification activities; or conducting transportation studies. In the Central Office, work involves assisting higher level planning specialists in the design and creation of complex programs to include collecting data and performing developmental assignments on projects; assisting a regional manager in servicing the regional transportation organization to include responsibility for local transportation planning organizations within a region; or independently providing ongoing management of a transportation program characterized by routine or standard application processes and participation by organizations. In an Engineering District Office, work includes ongoing responsibility to implement statewide programs in the region with assistance from Central Office statewide program coordinators. Work at this level in an Engineering District Office involves program analysis, as well as providing support in the management of transportation planning systems and information databases. Work is performed independently within program guidelines, with general instructions received from a supervisor who reviews work upon completion for adherence to technical standards, policies, and results obtained.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: In the Central Office, assists in developing and monitoring a schedule for project implementation consistent with state, regional, or district funding capabilities and in developing capital budget information.

Coordinates the implementation and monitoring of activities identified in the annual statewide, regional, and district unified planning work programs.

Compiles, analyzes, and projects land use, travel, and other data.

Assists in performing strategic planning studies related to varied aspects of the organization or to specific transportation issues.

Reviews and analyzes financing mechanisms and state and federal legislation.

Prepares written and oral reports for agency and local decision makers on individual projects, programs, and issues.

In an Engineering District environment, coordinates activities, such as report generation and system updates related to the district’s Multimodal Project Management System (MPMS).

In an Engineering District environment, gathers and maintains information for transportation projects through all stages of development.

In an Engineering District environment, coordinates, develops, and implements bicycle and pedestrian programs and transportation enhancement projects in concert with local transportation planning organizations.

In an Engineering District environment, balances and maintains cash flow projections for all highway/bridge projects, both proposed and in progress.

In an Engineering District environment, develops and maintains a historical database on expenditures, and manages the completion and submission of Federal Agreement Estimates (Form D-4232), and other related federal and state forms.

In an Engineering District environment, prepares and explains various reports for legislators, contractors, district executives, and other personnel.

Represents the district office by attending community activities, public meetings, meetings with public officials, and regional and inner-district meetings as required.

Coordinates and manages the collection of data for the annual Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS).

Coordinates traffic data collection and advises partners on local planning organization data collection within district boundaries.

Participates in the development, analysis, and maintenance of transportation (highway, mass transit, aviation, rail freight, port, or waterway systems) plans and budgets.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles and objectives of transportation planning and programming.

Knowledge of project planning methods and techniques.

Knowledge of the techniques and procedures involved in the collection, analysis, and evaluation of transportation planning data.

Knowledge of statistical sampling techniques.

Knowledge of algebra and basic statistics.

Knowledge of the use and functionality of industry standard software application programs such as word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, and database.

Ability to analyze and interpret technical data.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as a Transportation Planning Specialist Trainee;

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One year of professional transportation planning or transportation programming experience and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics, planning, computer science, or geography;

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An equivalent combination of experience and training.