SALARY RANGE: $61,612.00 to $96,001.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD: Friday, October 25, 2013 to Monday, November 04, 2013

SERIES & GRADE: GS-0810-11/12

POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time – Permanent

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 12

DUTY LOCATIONS: FEW vacancies – Lakewood, CO, US

This position is located in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Federal Lands Division Office and supports the Division as a senior designer with responsibility for the development of plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E) packages for the most complex, advanced projects relative to the design of highways and bridges. The projects occur primarily on Federal Lands managed by other Federal agencies, such as the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service and include a multi-state area. The Senior Designer mentors, trains, and assists in distribution of project work tasks to other designers on the team and assists in quality control on design work products. As assigned, may be a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) responsible for managing Architect-Engineer (A/E) Consultant task orders or reimbursable agreements.

The ideal candidate for this position is a mid-career engineer with experience working both independently and with multi-discipline teams as a lead/senior designer in developing, monitoring, and adhering to the design, budget, and schedule for assigned roadway construction projects, providing technical assistance from initial scoping through construction support, and addressing design engineering issues with a wide range of external contacts.

The Transportation Research Board Young Member’s Council will once again be holding the Six Minute Pitch: Transportation Startup Challenge, during the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, January 12-16, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Please see the Call for Presenters (see below) for information on the judging panel and submitting an application to present!

At this session, selected presenters will have an opportunity to pitch their cutting-edge, research-based concepts for transportation product or service-based business to a panel of distinguished transportation industry investors and entrepreneurs in just six minutes. The evaluation panel will provide feedback to each presenter on the viability of the product or service presented in today’s transportation industry. An honorary ‘winner’ of the challenge will be declared at the close of the session. The inaugural January 2013 Six Minute Pitch session was one of the most well-attended sessions at the TRB Annual Meeting – with an attendance of more than 200. Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in this one-of-a-kind TRB Annual Meeting session!

Who can submit an entry? Any professional with a transportation-related business idea or active startup, but preference will be given to young professionals (TRB defines ‘young’ as professionals 35 or younger). A preference will also be given to individuals who intend to register for TRB.

What are the submission requirements? Submit your application using this form. Applicants must also provide a current resume or CV (PDF or Microsoft Word) via email to sjohnson@foursquareitp.com. The submission via email of additional supporting materials, such as concept designs, web links, or existing presentations, is also encouraged. All applicants must describe how their product or service will bring research to commercial application. Presentations should include an interactive element, such as a presentation of a prototype or demonstration of software under development. The use of Prezi or PowerPoint is also permitted.

What topic areas will be covered? Transportation products and services in all modes of transportation. Business concepts that are oriented towards both the end consumer and those serving the transportation industry itself will be considered. Transportation planning and management consulting business ideas will not be accepted.

When are entries due? November 15, 2013 (accepted presenters will be notified in late November)

Questions? Contact sjohnson@foursquareitp.com.

via WSB-TV

A sleeping driver was caught on camera slumped over asleep in his pickup truck causing a traffic jam on a busy Atlanta highway when he suddenly woke up, then crashed his truck into several vehicles before fleeing the scene. Yeah.. And it was all caught on camera by a local reporter. Click here to read more.

Here is AP report on the incident:

And here is the video from WSB-TV which shows a bit more of this bizarre mayhem..

Recruitment ID: 0939-TSOEBU-10/13

SALARY: $61,496 – $98,745

CLOSING DATE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Executive Service – Serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking to fill a (Administrator VII) Project Manager position to promote Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in Maryland in the Office of Real Estate with the Maryland Department of Transportation. This position will manage MDOT Real Estate Projects. This will include working with development teams and stakeholders in the creation of a site development plan; negotiating agreements and financial plans; leading project teams; participating in meetings and briefings; providing recommendations on policy; providing written briefing materials and reports. This vacancy is located at The Secretary’s Office (MDOT Headquarters) in Hanover, MD located in Anne Arundel County.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

EXPERIENCE: Six years of experience in administrative or professional work, three years of which must have been in the area of real estate development in the private or public sector to include one or more of the following: project management, business negotiations, legal work, land use planning, site development/design and planning (preferably in the transit or rail industry). In addition, two years of experience involving the supervision of other employees, overseeing and coordinating the general operations of a unit, applying rules and regulations, or exercising responsibility for the development of policies and procedures or an aspect of real estate projects.

NOTES:

1. Additional experience in administrative or professional work may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.
2. Additional graduate level education at an accredited college or university may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credit hours on a year to year basis for the required general experience.

TO APPLY: You must complete an application (DTS-1) to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for the employment application. Please include all relevant experience on your application. This includes, but is not limited to, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity or any other experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for. Qualified applicants may be subject to background and reference checks. If you do not wish to apply online, you may call 410-865-1073 for an application.

Applications can be mailed to: RECRUITMENT AND EXAMINATION UNIT, OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MAILSTOP 140, 7201 CORPORATE CENTER DRIVE, HANOVER, MD 21076, or you may apply online at https://jobs.mdot.state.md.us. Postmarks will not be accepted. Applications sent without sufficient postage will not be accepted and will be returned. Applications sent through interoffice mail that are not received by the closing date will not be accepted. Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disability will be provided upon request. Please notify in advance. MD Relay Service Number (711). Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals with disability will be provided upon request.

Click here to learn more and to apply

Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning (Foursquare ITP – www.foursquareitp.com) has four job openings (scroll below for details on each position advertised):

• Transportation Planner – 3-5 years of experience
• Environmental/Transportation Planner – 5-7+ years of experience
• Transit Service Planner – 7+ years of experience
• Administrative/Marketing Professional – 5+ years of experience

Foursquare ITP is looking for qualified candidates to contribute to, assist, lead, and/or manage teams on a diverse array of transportation projects for state and local governments, federal agencies, transit agencies, and regional agencies. Foursquare ITP is a transportation planning firm based in Rockville, Maryland. As a small firm we are able to give our clients the personalized focus that they seek and deserve. We offer our clients expertise in regional transportation planning and coordination, public transit planning, strategic planning, and transportation demand management. For an overview of the types of projects that Foursquare ITP works on, please visit www.foursquareitp.com.

The selected candidates will work as part of a team and will be responsible for research, analysis, report development, field work and meeting participation on a wide variety of transportation projects. The selected candidates will be involved in a wide array of projects, including transit development plans, transportation needs assessments, station area plans, transit route planning, financial planning, transit performance monitoring, and federal grant management. The positions will require research and data analysis utilizing a variety of sources, including transit ridership data, Census, socioeconomic, land use, survey data, and existing plan information.

In addition to having the appropriate technical skills, the successful candidates will be smart, motivated, self-starters who are passionate about transit and transportation planning. The candidates must also be flexible in meeting client demands and operating within a dynamic workflow.

Qualifications

Transportation Positions: Any position at Foursquare ITP requires excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Topical area expertise is required in one or more of the following: transit planning; transit program implementation; corridor-level transit planning; regional transportation planning; transit development plans; federal transit grant management; transportation demand management (TDM); Environmental Impact Statements/Environmental Assessments; land use and economic development analysis; and strategic planning. A strong working knowledge of the Washington Metropolitan area is desired.

• Transportation Planner – Must have three to five years of experience in the field; a Master’s degree in transportation planning, urban planning or similar may be used to substitute for two years of experience.
• Environmental/Transportation Planner – Must have at least five years of experience in the field with extensive experience in conducting NEPA documentation for transit projects, specifically EIS, EA and documented CE. While this position will initially focus largely on environmental planning, the successful candidate will have a wider range of transportation planning experience and interests. Depending on the level of experience of the successful applicant, this position may also be a project manager position. Appropriate educational background is also required, including preferably a Master’s degree in transportation or environmental planning, urban planning, or similar.
• Transit Service Planner –  Must have at least seven years of experience conducting service and operations plans for transit agencies of all sizes and in a variety of environments.

Administrative/Marketing Position – The selected candidate will be responsible for a variety of administrative and marketing duties, including: coordinating and formatting proposals; updating company website; assisting with invoice preparation and review; serving as an executive assistant to the President and other senior staff – assisting with travel arrangements, meeting arrangements, and other duties; and other administrative and marketing duties.

• Administrative/Marketing Professional – Must have at least five years of experience conducting similar work in a private sector organization that deals primarily with public-sector clients. The selected candidate must be a self-starter with attention to detail and be comfortable working on multiple tasks at once in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The position requires excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign are required.

Applications (résumés and cover letters) will be accepted through Friday November 1, 2013 to resumes@foursquareitp.com.

When applying, please mention you saw this opening listed at Transportgooru.com. 

via Jalopnik

Chanced up upon this awesome video on /Drive’s YouTube channel, with some of my favorite automotive writers (Travis Okulski and Mike Spinelli of Jalopnik with Andrew DelColle from Popular Mechanics) talking about the nagging questions many of us have about autonomous vehicles. I’d say that this video  is more like a e-Primer for all things on autonomous vehicles for those interested (and some more) but offered in a nice, and conversant package without getting you all bored. Check it out.

Video description: When are the first self-driving cars coming, how will they work and — the most important question — will I be able to take a nap in traffic? All of those questions and more will be answered. With Andrew Del-Colle, associate editor of Popular Mechanics magazine and Travis Okulski, senior writer at Jalopnik.

Related resources

• Read The 12 Most Important Questions About Self-Driving Cars” (Popular Mechanics)
• Self-Driving Cars on Reddit

via Popular Science

Slowly but steadily coast-to-coast travel in an electric vehicle is inching closer to reality. Though not as ubiquitous as the gas stations on the highways and arterial, the growing number of charging stations indicate a big shift coming our way. An interesting data nugget – more than half of the nation’s 8,051 electric-vehicle charging stations have opened since 2012.

Data Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. Department of Energy; Image Courtesy: Popular Science

Legend:

• Each hexagon represents the number of stations in that area.
• Blue hexagons—mostly outside major cities—indicate those built in 2012 and 2013.
• Orange hues show older and newer stations.

Via Momentum Mag

Have you been in Washington, DC and New York City recently? These two cities, along with a growing number of other American cities, offer a great bikesharing programs. A good majority of the users of these systems are women, who have fondly embraced cycling (not just as a workout but also for many other reasons) and the numbers are growing rapidly as the popularity of the bikesharing continues to expand across the country.

A recent report from League of American Bicyclists shows a growing a trend seen on streets nationwide: Women are changing the face of bicycling, and bicycling is transforming the lives of women. Momentum Mag, in conjunction with League of American Bicyclists, has put together an infographic that highlights 10 common myths about women cycling, which is filled with all kinds of interesting statistics.  Check it out

Image Courtesy: Momentum Mag

Click here to download the high-resolution version.

While we are at it, let me also share the Women on a Roll report, which serves as the basis for this infograph.

via Autoblog

Google has filed a patent that would see drivers use gestures to control a vehicle, according to a report from Engadget. The system, if it ever arrives in the automobile, would use a depth camera mounted on the roof of the car and a laser scanner. Looks like automotive technology will be taking a giant leap in the days ahead when Google gets it in their driverless cars. One thing that is not noted in the Autoblog article is Google’s recent acquisition of Flutter, a startup that makes a desktop app of the same name that allows users to control other applications using hand gestures.  Information Week offers a few more details: Flutter works by capturing the user’s hand gesture on a computer’s webcam and then translating the gesture, using image processing techniques, into a specific command in supported applications. It can be used, for example, to play and pause songs playing in iTunes on a Mac or Windows computer with just a wave of the hand.

Click here to read more here.

Image courtesy: United States Patent and Trademark Office via Autoblog

Job Title: Planner II

Closing Date/Time: Mon. 10/21/13 5:00 PM Pacific Time

Salary: $4,223.25 – $6,015.00 Monthly ($50,679.00 – $72,180.00 Annually)

Job Type: Non-Union Regular Full-Time

Location: 710 NE Holladay, Portland, Oregon

Responsibilities
Provide planning programming and implementation support associated with TriMet’s service capital planning and scheduling programs. Conduct research and technical analysis, field investigation and documentation. Lead internal and external projects with stakeholders.

Provide coordination between TriMet and government agencies and participation in programs, plans and projects. Understand and reflect in all planning and conceptual design efforts the safety and operational needs of TriMet services.

Ensure a commitment to safety through consistent and professional behaviors in performance of job requirements that demonstrate safety is a fundamental value that guides all aspects of our work. Perform related work as required.

Essential Functions:

1. Assist in the conception, development and implementation of a variety of transit service planning projects and activities; work with jurisdictional representatives in developing and implementing plans and projects consistent with departmental objectives. Perform related research, data collection and analysis.

2. Provide support and analysis for service planning and scheduling, especially annual service plan, quarterly service changes and new service development.

3. Under general supervision, develop and manage project contracts and grants. Assign work to contractors, monitor contractor performance, document deficiencies in performance, communicate with the contractor and assure contract compliance with contract specifications.

4. Support TriMet capital, service policy and agency planning with proactive project management including the public, stakeholders and other jurisdictions.

5. Perform analysis, prepare documentation, formulate solutions to operations problems and write reports as assigned.

6. Stay abreast of new techniques in transportation planning, project management and computerized technical analysis.

7. Work with citizens, interest groups and representatives from other governmental agencies on transit planning projects.

8. Prepare draft transit plans and programs for implementation.

9. Conduct analysis and tasks to support new capital projects, service planning and jurisdictional planning and coordination activities.

10. Prepare maps and other analysis and presentation documentation, using GIS, Excel, and other computer-based tools.

Position Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in City or Urban Planning, Engineering, Business, Systems Analysis, Public Administration or a related field.

Two years of experience in Planning or a similar field. Related work experience in transportation planning and operations may substitute for education requirement on a year-to-year basis.

Or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Selection Criteria:

1. Knowledge of principles and practices of transit, planning principles, operations and analysis.

2. Knowledge of project planning management techniques.

3. Intermediate skills with Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, database applications and other software applications. Project management, graphics, GIS application experience desirable. Demonstrated proficiency to accurately keyboard (type).

3. Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and graphic form.

4. Ability to lead tasks and manage consultants contracts on time and on budget.

5. Ability to prioritize work and effectively coordinate the work of others.

6. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, management and the general public, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds, the elderly, persons with disabilities and/or other vulnerable populations.

7. Ability to produce clear technical as well as public documents.

8. Ability to research a variety of data sources for analysis that leads to a conclusion, recommendation and/or report.

9. Ability to focus on essentials of tasks and produce focused and timely results.

10. Ability to work productively and cooperatively with divergent groups within and outside the agency.

Click here to learn more and apply