Transportation Planners

• Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections.
• Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs.
• Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
• Analyze and interpret data from traffic modeling software, geographic information systems, or associated databases.
• Document and evaluate transportation project needs and costs.
• Review development plans for transportation system effects, infrastructure requirements, or compliance with applicable transportation regulations.
• Develop design ideas for new or improved transport infrastructure, such as junction improvements, pedestrian projects, bus facilities, and car parking areas.
• Produce environmental documents, such as environmental assessments or environmental impact statements.
• Prepare necessary documents to obtain project approvals or permits.
• Analyze information related to transportation, such as land use policies, environmental impact of projects, or long-range planning needs.
• Prepare or review engineering studies or specifications.
• Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues.
• Analyze information from traffic counting programs.
• Develop or test new methods or models of transportation analysis.
• Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues.
• Analyze transportation-related consequences of federal and state legislative proposals.
• Represent jurisdictions in the legislative or administrative approval of land development projects.
• Direct urban traffic counting programs.
• Design transportation surveys to identify areas of public concern.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Transportation Planners.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Transportation Planners.