About the position
At the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. The core values of the MBTA are built around safety, service, equity, and sustainability, and each employee is expected to perform their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes participation in local safety committee meetings as needed. As a Transportation Planner Analyst III, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the functionality and compliance of bus stops, which serve as the first point of contact for many riders interacting with the transit system. Your primary responsibilities will include investigating and addressing bus stop-related issues, coordinating with various teams, and enhancing the overall transit experience for the community. You will support the Operations Planning, Scheduling, and Strategy team by collaborating with municipalities and internal departments, including the Bus Transformation Office and Service Planning. Your duties will involve collecting, cleaning, and validating data, performing analyses using transit scheduling software tools, and presenting findings to stakeholders. You will also create maps and slide decks, review engineering documents, and attend field engagement events. The role requires a proactive approach to building and maintaining relationships with internal departments and municipal officials, ensuring that bus stops are designed and built to meet established standards and safety regulations. You will be expected to conduct field visits, monitor inquiries and complaints, and maintain accurate records related to bus stop investigations and projects.
Responsibilities
- Investigate and assess bus stop-related issues reported by the public, municipal officials, or internal departments.
- Coordinate closely with the MBTA Transit Facilities and Maintenance to fulfill work order requests for signage.
- Conduct field visits to evaluate existing bus stops and propose necessary changes or enhancements.
- Collaborate with transportation officials, engineers, planners, and municipal staff to integrate bus stop planning with broader transportation projects.
- Ensure bus stops meet established standards, accessibility guidelines, and safety regulations.
- Maintain accurate records related to bus stop investigations and construction projects.
- Monitor and respond to inquiries and complaints regarding bus stops promptly and professionally.
- Conduct spatial, statistical, or cartographic analysis using Excel, GIS, and other tools.
- Review engineering plan sets and designs submitted by consultants that impact MBTA bus stops.
- Develop sketch or concept layouts to communicate bus stop designs and proposals.
- Prepare scheduled and ad-hoc reports, slideshows, graphics, maps, and other visual reports.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with internal departments and municipal officials.
- Conduct virtual and in-person fieldwork to confirm the condition of bus infrastructure.
- Respond to inquiries from customers, vendors, or co-workers in a courteous manner.
Requirements
- A Bachelor's Degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Geography, Civil Engineering, Business, Public Administration, or a related field.
- One year of experience in transportation planning, engineering, and analytics or related fields.
- Familiarity with public transport planning principles and reliability metrics.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare plans within multi-stakeholder environments.
- Ability to build working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Skilled problem solver with the ability to resolve complex issues under pressure.
- Strong analytical skills and experience in data collection and interpretation.
- Experience with advanced data analysis or transportation software (e.g., Tableau, GIS, CAD, Synchro, Vissim).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Effective organizational, analytical, multi-tasking, and time management skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills.
Nice-to-haves
- Familiarity with modeling service changes and their impacts.
- Familiarity with scheduling principles and software (e.g., HASTUS, remix).
- Formal education in planning, engineering, or a related field.
