Traffic Forecasting & Toll Road Analytics Intern
About The Position
The Traffic Forecasting & Toll Road Analytics Intern will support high-priority analytical initiatives focused on freight, commercial transportation, and toll road performance across the Chicago Skyway and the broader regional highway network. This role provides hands-on experience applying transportation systems analysis, data modeling, and economic insights to real-world infrastructure and revenue challenges. Working closely with internal teams and external consultants, the intern will help translate complex transportation, economic, and industry data into actionable insights related to traffic demand, congestion, routing behavior, and revenue performance. The role also includes opportunities to contribute to internal capability-building through model documentation, training, and knowledge sharing.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing or recently completed a Master’s or PhD in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Operations Research, Economics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
- Proficiency in: Advanced Microsoft Excel (required)
- Experience working with large, complex datasets, including cleaning, structuring, and analyzing data
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn
- Working knowledge of: Microsoft Office Suite
Nice To Haves
- Experience with freight modeling, commercial transportation systems, or toll road analysis (highly desirable)
- Experience or coursework in transportation systems, traffic modeling, econometrics, or demand forecasting preferred
- Python, R, or similar tools (preferred)
- Data visualization tools (a plus)
- Familiarity with concepts such as pricing sensitivity, elasticity, routing behavior, or network analysis preferred
Responsibilities
- Support an active engagement with an external consultant focused on freight, commercial transportation, and toll-road dynamics, including work related to the Chicago Skyway and regional highway network
- Translate traffic, economic, and industry indicators into insights impacting traffic volumes, congestion patterns, and revenue performance
- Assist in developing analytical frameworks related to: Toll rate sensitivity and elasticity, Diversion risk across alternative routes, Routing behavior for commercial vehicles
- Perform data mining and analysis of large-scale historical traffic and transaction datasets, including segmentation and trend identification
- Support the documentation and knowledge transfer of an existing traffic forecasting model, including assumptions, structure, usage, and interpretation guidance
- Develop clear, structured outputs (Excel models, dashboards, summaries, presentations) to communicate findings to stakeholders
- Lead one to two internal training sessions to strengthen analytical capabilities across the team (e.g., Excel-based modeling or data analysis)
- Serve as an informal technical mentor to a junior analyst, reinforcing structured problem-solving and quantitative thinking
- Collaborate across operations, finance, and strategy teams to align analysis with business priorities
- Perform other duties as assigned
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
