Transportation Planners

environmental impact public policy information project investigative transportation design technical report comprehension benefit

Planner, Program Officer, Transportation Data Programs Manager, Transportation Planner

What they do:
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects. Gather, compile, and analyze data. Study the use and operation of transportation systems. Develop transportation models or simulations.
On the job, you would:
  • Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities.
  • 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.
  • Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning.

Knowledge

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • geography

Safety and Government

  • law and government

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • communicate by writing

Ideas and Logic

  • come up with lots of ideas
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

  • Citilabs Cube
  • SAS Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Geographic information system

  • ESRI ArcGIS software Hot Technology In Demand
  • Geographic information system GIS software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about transportation planners.