Job Description

This is a professional transportation planning position responsible for performing support activities for two high-profile offices within the Transportation Programs division. The Office of Transportation Operations Management (TOM) focuses on Transportation Systems and Management and Operations (TSMO) planning efforts that improve the operational efficiency of the region’s transportation system frequently advocating lower cost operational and multimodal approaches that are coordinated between technologies and agencies to make better use of existing transportation facilities. The Office of Capital Programs is responsible for project development activities as well as development and maintenance of the regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which represents the priority transportation infrastructure investments for the region.

In addition to working as part of staff teams, the position requires working with member and local governments, operating agencies, state and federal agencies, and emergency responders. The employee will help to identify and advance priority transportation plans and projects, and to improve the efficiency of the region’s transportation system. The employee will be responsible for assisting in the overhaul of the Interactive Detour Route Mapping (IDRuM) program; advancing incident management, emergency management, and traffic operations programs; and participating in plans for the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The employee will also be responsible for assisting in the development and maintenance of the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for PA and NJ by helping to coordinate communication and feedback about transportation projects among DVRPC staff and member governments by entering and managing project information, and posting summaries to the DVRPC website. Work is performed in accordance with well-defined objectives and professional standards and is subject to close administrative and technical review by senior professionals.

Responsibilities

• Assist in updating a new version of the Interactive Detour Route Mapping (IDRuM) program, including using GIS to make necessary updates to the detours to reflect changes to any routes or construction activity.
• Assist in the coordination of traffic incident management task forces and programs.
• Assist in the coordination of TSM&O initiatives through ITS, traffic incident management, traffic management, transit management, goods movement, safety, and congestion management activities.
• Assist in development and maintenance of the PA and NJ TIPs. Tasks will include helping to maintain the TIP databases by updating current database records, and preparing reports for posting information to the website. Other tasks may include seeking input from state, county and transit operator representatives, as well as other DVRPC staff, using established criteria to evaluate new candidate projects, preparing various project listings and financial summaries, research on project details and funding eligibility, and assisting in preparing public documents.
• Provide staff support for project evaluation, selection, and development. To help vet transportation project proposals, MPO activities for PennDOT Connects and the NJDOT Capital Program Committee requires communication and coordination to solicit, consolidate, and track feedback from internal DVRPC staff “Subject Matter Experts” and outside partners on transportation projects and proposals. Tasks may also include preparing application and guidance materials, preparing spreadsheets of financial information, reviewing applications, and preparing meeting notes.
• Perform related work as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and objectives of transportation planning
• Superior time management and organizational skills, and personal initiative with the ability to proactively learn about new concepts and techniques, and work both independently and in a team environment.
• High proficiency with ArcGIS, spreadsheet software (MS Excel), relational database software (MS Access), and the ability to produce reports using such data management tools.
• Solid experience with GSuite, word processing and document layout in MS Word and MS PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
• Ability to present information effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
• Strict attention to detail and ability to proofread text, data, and financial information.
• Ability to adhere to rigid, frequent deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, planning partners, and the general public, and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of stakeholders.

Experience and Training

To classify as a level RA I, a minimum of one year of professional experience in transportation planning, or in social science research work is required. Such experience may have been gained from a combination of experience and training. Training may have been gained through graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, with major coursework in Urban Planning. A Master’s degree or a full year of intern or co-operative education experience can be substituted for one year of experience.

Job Description

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) seeks a qualified candidate to join the Office of Travel Trends and Forecasts (OTTF). The OTTF develops and maintains DVRPC’s regional travel simulation models, including a best-in-class trip-based model and a newly developed activity-based model, and applies the models to support a wide range of studies, from traditional highway and transit alternatives analysis to emerging economic impact and resilience analysis. The Office is also actively engaged in integrating open-source and big data for model development and analysis.

The employee will assist the development, maintenance, and enhancement of DVRPC’s regional travel models, and support model applications for various projects undertaken by the agency. Assignments may include programming to support model development and data analysis, conducting and analyzing travel surveys; preparing travel model inputs such as land use, transportation network characteristics, and demographic and employment data; estimating future transportation system demand for long range plans and the design of individual highway and transit facilities; and calculating operational statistics such as travel time, delay, and level-of-service.

The employee will be enthusiastic about all manner of transportation analysis, adaptable enough to support a wide range of project types, and able to both conduct complex technical analysis and clearly tell the story of their findings in writing, graphics, and maps. This position involves working with public and private sector agencies, decision-makers, and the general public. Work is performed in accordance with well-defined objectives and professional standards under the close technical direction of senior engineers and planners. Qualified candidates should possess solid analytical skills, be detailed-oriented and self-motivated, and have the ability to multi-task.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, calibration, validation, and documentation of transportation and land use forecasting models.
• Write computer programs and scripts needed for travel simulations and data analysis.
• Assist with design and conduct various types of travel surveys and data collection for model updates and individual highway and transit studies.
• Support model applications, analyze and summarize model outputs, and present findings and recommendations to technical committees and the public.
• Collect transportation systems data, including speeds; auto, truck, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic volumes and travel times; and transit ridership. This may include field work.
• Prepare traffic flow and travel desire diagrams and maps; including traffic volume counts, estimates, and forecasts.
• Calculate travel time, delay, level-of-service, volume/capacity ratio, and other operational measures of effectiveness for highway, transit, and non-motorized modes.
• Provide other technical assistance, as required.

Qualifications

• Solid analytical, quantitative, and problem solving skills.
• Hands-on experience with Python, C#, or other programming languages.
• Knowledge of the principles of traffic engineering, econometrics, statistics, or computer science that is applicable to transportation system modeling and analysis.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Access, SQL, or other database programs is desired.
• Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) is desired.
• Knowledge of major travel demand modeling software, such as VISUM, CUBE, TransCAD, DaySim and/or EMME. Knowledge of microscopic or mesoscopic simulation software, such as VISSIM, is a bonus.
• Ability to effectively present results of research and technical analyses in oral, written and graphic form.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, planning officials, and the general public.

Experience and Training

To classify as a Level TE II/Transportation Engineer, a minimum of three years professional experience in civil engineering, transportation planning, or a related discipline; and a Bachelors’ degree from an accredited college or university. Such experience may have been gained from a combination of experience and training. A Master’s degree or a full year of intern or co-operative education experience can be substituted for one year of experience.

Job Description

This is a technical / professional position providing direct assistance to local government and non-profit agencies in implementing various non-traditional, federally funded transportation projects in the Delaware Valley region.

The incumbent will coordinate and facilitate the implementation process (beginning at project concept through construction) of numerous projects that are sponsored by a local government, other public agency, or by a private non-profit organization, in addition to program management work. The types of projects include: bicycle facility construction (both on and off roadway); reconstruction/restoration of historic transportation buildings; provision of pedestrian facilities and streetscape improvements; and other such projects eligible under federal funding programs. The federal funding sources are generally Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-aside), Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Program (STP/STU).

PennDOT has asked DVRPC to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of these non-traditional projects. DVRPC also provides project management support for the four Counties in New Jersey. In either case, the project sponsor is responsible for hiring and managing professional engineers/architects to develop the plans, specifications, and estimates for the project and for submitting these through PennDOT/NJDOT for approval. The incumbent will coordinate and facilitate this work with the project sponsor in the same manner as PennDOT’s/NJDOT’s managers for the pre-construction phases of the project. PennDOT/NJDOT will let the construction contracts and the sponsor will provide for construction inspection. The work of the incumbent will be performed in accordance with overall DVRPC policies, federal and state requirements, and professional standards. Work will be reviewed by the Manager, Office of Project Implementation through regular project status conferences.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates meetings and field views with project sponsor, PennDOT/NJDOT and affected municipalities and counties.
• Assists the project sponsor in the process of getting a consultant under contract, including providing guidance on the preparation of the request for qualifications (RFQ), how to advertise and solicit responses, and the requirements of the state/federal consultant selection process.
• Assists the project sponsor in the reviews of consultants’ responses to the RFP, including the scope and cost proposals, project schedule, and list of deliverables.
• Oversees the project’s environmental review process and the development of environmental documents.
• Pursues, with the project sponsor and the consultant, the timely delivery of final plans, specifications and estimates to PennDOT/NJDOT.
• Writes letters, meeting minutes and gives status reports to technical committees.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of basic engineering principles.
• Considerable knowledge of how transportation projects are implemented preferred.
• Considerable experience related to project development and management preferred.
• Considerable knowledge of the applicable state and federal standards preferred.
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite.
• Strong oral, writing, organization, and presentation skills to ensure efficient project delivery.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private agency officials, consultants, the general public, and other DVRPC staff.
• Ability to travel and attend meetings at various locations throughout the DVRPC region approximately 25% of the time.

Experience and Training

To classify as a level TE II, a minimum of three years of professional experience in Civil or Transportation Engineering or Project Management including demonstrated skills in design, construction management/inspection, or a related field, and a Bachelor’s degree with major course work in Civil Engineering or a related field. A Master’s degree in Civil Engineering or related field may be substituted for one year of experience.