Transportation Planner-Multimodal (Bicycle & Pedestrian)

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments•Washington, DC

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Transportation Planning of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is seeking a Transportation Planner III to assist in professional-level planning activities that support metropolitan transportation planning. The Transportation Planner position, as part of the Multimodal Planning Team, will primarily play a role in facilitating regional coordination and communication of bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility planning issues. The successful candidate will also have responsibilities including authoring technical and policy-oriented reports on metropolitan transportation issues; collecting and analyzing relevant data for transportation planning studies; contributing to the regional long-range transportation plan, Visualize2050, and other departmental initiatives; supporting the Street Smart safety education campaign and potentially other TPB technical assistance programs; and presenting to the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and COG committees and subcommittees. The position requires strong program management and analysis skills, ability to establish and maintain relationships with partners, and the candidate should be familiar with general transportation planning issues, metropolitan transportation issues, and transportation performance measurement. EXAMPLES OF WORK Undertaking bicycle and pedestrian planning; serving as a subject matter expert on bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility planning for the region; and acting as a regional resource for bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility information. Managing and/or supporting the preparation of metropolitan transportation planning studies such as the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and update/tracking of the National Capital Trail Network. Example activities include producing plan content such as narrative, charts, and maps; developing project scopes and schedule; working with consultants and/or other TPB departments; and monitoring progress toward completion. Managing and/or supporting the Street Smart program including developing annual grant funding applications; administering grants awarded by funding agencies and monitoring consultant progress on campaigns; collaborating with the Street Smart Advisory Group and the consultant to execute press events, media campaigns, public outreach activities, and new creatives; and coordinating with the Advisory Group on overall programmatic decisions. Staffing and supporting the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee including developing agendas, conducting outreach to speakers, facilitating meetings, drafting meeting summaries, and coordinating meeting logistics and acting as a general liaison for regional transportation issues. Supporting TPB-administered grant programs (ex. Transportation Land Use Connection and Transit Withing Reach). Example activities include evaluating program applications, participating in panel selection discussions, and assisting with project oversight. Coordinating and working with federal, state, regional and local transportation agencies and organizations. Example activities include regularly interacting with and participating in other organizations’ bicycle and pedestrian planning activities, representing the TPB’s interests, and summarizing meeting discussions. Authoring and presenting technical and policy-oriented information including major plan documents, memoranda, and technical reports for a variety of audiences including elected officials, technical experts, and the public. Making oral and graphic presentations of metropolitan transportation data, issues, findings and recommendations to TPB and COG committees and subcommittees. Facilitating the planning of key events such as symposiums or workshops on bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility planning topics. Other multimodal transportation planning duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Candidates must possess either: Master’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or a related field and four (4) or more years of directly applicable work experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, or a related field and six (6) or more years of directly applicable work experience
An equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, analytical and writing skills and abilities may be considered.
Background and demonstrated experience using the following: ArcGIS and Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Ability to interpret technical findings and share them with general audiences.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from members, regulatory agencies, community leaders and citizens.
Ability to articulate intended project workflows to direct supervisors.
Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute percentages, rates, and ratios and to draw and interpret numeric charts and graphs.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to evaluate technical options and implement solutions based on individual project needs.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience in transportation planning, including planning for active transportation (walking and bicycling) modes.
Project/program management skills and experience.
Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment within and between COG departments.
Ability to establish and maintain relationships with external partners and stakeholders.
Passionate about learning, improving technical skills, public service, and making significant contributions that will improve the agency and the region.

Responsibilities

Undertaking bicycle and pedestrian planning; serving as a subject matter expert on bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility planning for the region; and acting as a regional resource for bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility information.
Managing and/or supporting the preparation of metropolitan transportation planning studies such as the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and update/tracking of the National Capital Trail Network.
Managing and/or supporting the Street Smart program including developing annual grant funding applications; administering grants awarded by funding agencies and monitoring consultant progress on campaigns; collaborating with the Street Smart Advisory Group and the consultant to execute press events, media campaigns, public outreach activities, and new creatives; and coordinating with the Advisory Group on overall programmatic decisions.
Staffing and supporting the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee including developing agendas, conducting outreach to speakers, facilitating meetings, drafting meeting summaries, and coordinating meeting logistics and acting as a general liaison for regional transportation issues.
Supporting TPB-administered grant programs (ex. Transportation Land Use Connection and Transit Withing Reach).
Coordinating and working with federal, state, regional and local transportation agencies and organizations.
Authoring and presenting technical and policy-oriented information including major plan documents, memoranda, and technical reports for a variety of audiences including elected officials, technical experts, and the public.
Making oral and graphic presentations of metropolitan transportation data, issues, findings and recommendations to TPB and COG committees and subcommittees.
Facilitating the planning of key events such as symposiums or workshops on bicycle, pedestrian, and micromobility planning topics.
Other multimodal transportation planning duties, as assigned.