Transportation Planning Intern

Northern Middlesex Council of Governments•Northern Middlesex COG, MA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) is a mission-driven regional planning government agency serving the Greater Lowell region. The Transportation Planning Intern supports regional transportation planning across nine communities, working alongside NMCOG transportation staff on Complete Streets, safety, transit, and corridor planning. The role offers hands-on experience collecting field data, analyzing findings, and supporting projects and decisions in local government. The intern assists with transportation studies, plans, reports, public outreach, and engagement. Fieldwork includes auditing sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps, bus stops, and bicycle facilities; conducting bicycle, pedestrian, and parking counts; and documenting conditions using photos and field data collection tools. The intern also processes and summarizes transportation and crash data and may create maps and maintain transportation datasets using GIS software. This is a part-time, hourly, non-exempt position of up to 20 hours per week. Work is in-office, with fieldwork and outreach that may involve evenings, weekends, and extended periods outdoors in varying weather. A valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle are required for fieldwork; NMCOG reimburses work-related mileage at the federal IRS rate. The position is open to current undergraduate and graduate students, recent graduates, and others interested in transportation planning.

Requirements

Interest in transportation planning, including transportation planning policies and programs such as bicycle and pedestrian planning, Vision Zero principles, Complete Streets, transit, and roadway safety.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy in collecting and recording data.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Microsoft Excel; Google Suite experience may be considered transferable.
Ability to work independently in the field and as part of a team.
Ability to work outdoors for extended periods, including standing and walking in varying weather conditions.
Professionalism and courtesy when interacting with members of the public.
A valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle for fieldwork.
Legal authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience with GIS, including Esri ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite.
Coursework or experience in planning, urban studies, geography, civil engineering, public policy, environmental studies, or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

Assist with research and drafting sections of transportation studies, plans, and reports.
Assist with public outreach and engagement, including surveys, pop-up events, public meetings, and outreach materials.
Perform field audits of sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps, bus stops, and bicycle facilities, documenting conditions with photos and field data collection tools.
Process, clean, and summarize field and other transportation data, such as crash data, and prepare tables, charts, and short written summaries of findings.
Conduct bicycle and pedestrian counts on trails, sidewalks, and roadways throughout the region using manual counts and/or automated counters.
Conduct parking utilization counts in downtowns, village centers, and other activity areas.
For candidates with GIS experience, create maps and maintain transportation datasets in Esri ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
Perform other duties as assigned.