Federal Highway Administration – Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

Upcoming Position: Research Transportation Specialist

Image courtesy. www.dot.gov

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is looking for a Research Transportation Specialist (GS-12/13) to lead state-of the-art transportation operations research projects at the nationally recognized Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia.  This position is for a junior or mid-level professional in the Transportation Operations Applications Team in the Office of Operations Research and Development (R&D).  The incumbent is experienced in research related to one or more of the following areas:

(a) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS),
(b) traffic adaptive control systems,
(c) freeway management systems,
(d) wireless communications systems, and/or
(e) cooperative vehicle-highway systems to help achieve the FHWA’s system performance strategic goal.

This position provides an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative environment at the Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory and with nationally recognized experts on meaningful cutting edge research projects such as the connected vehicle initiative and vehicle automation, as well as nearer-term applied problems in transportation operations.  The incumbent will be expected to guide in-house research, manage extramural contracts, and encourage partnerships for on-site research at our Cooperative Vehicle-Highway Testbed, as well as offsite field research on public or private roads and/or test tracks. The ideal candidate will preferably have an advanced degree in an engineering or scientific field, with course work related to one or more aspects of ITS, traffic engineering, or telecommunications.  He/she should have 5 or more years of relevant work experience.  Strong leadership, organization and people skills are a must.

FHWA expects to announce the position soon.  The office will not be accepting resumes, please refer to the USA Jobs web site periodically for the specific vacancy announcement:  https://www.usajobs.gov/

Also see: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/research/tfhrc/labs/operations/

Contact:  Ben McKeever, 202-493-3270 or ben.mckeever@dot.gov

Transportation Engineering Administrator

Bureau of Engineering and Construction

PLEASE FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC APPLICATION FILING INSTRUCTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE!

Open To:                     The Public (see Eligibility Requirement section below)

Location:                           Newington

Job Posting No:              77536

Hours:                                40 hours per week

Salary:                                Pay Grade MP 73  ($115,352 – $157,284 annually)

Closing Date:                   Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 4:00 p.m.

There is a position opportunity for a Transportation Engineering Administrator in the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Office of Engineering, in the Newington Administration Building.

Position Description:

This position is responsible for administering the programs and duties of all transportation related engineering operations on a statewide basis.  Duties include administering a staff of 450 and the operations of the office; coordinating, planning, and managing office activities; formulating program goals and objectives; developing or assisting in development of related policy; interpreting and administering pertinent laws; evaluating staff; preparing or assisting in preparation of office budget; maintaining contact with individuals both within and outside of the office who might impact on program activities; directing and coordinating design activities including design work accomplished under contract by outside sources; hydraulics and drainage analysis, geometric and special studies, design of bridges, transportation buildings and other structures and related facilities and specialized engineering activities including roadside development, utility relocation and property map preparation; directing bridge safety program; reviewing and recommending new or revised legislation; directing preparation of engineering reports; acting as engineering consultant to Transportation Chief Engineer and other departmental officials; performing related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY:

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of principles and practices of civil engineering including bridge design, construction and maintenance; considerable knowledge of design concepts and practices; considerable knowledge of bridge safety and inspection programs; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: 

General Experience: 

Eleven (11) years of professional experience in the planning and execution of complex transportation engineering projects.

Special Experience: 

Two (2) years of General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity in the field of transportation engineering with responsibility for policy formulation and complex project management for major bridge or highway design or highway construction projects.

NOTES:  1. Managerial capacity is defined as full time managerial responsibility for major programs. Position will have supervisory responsibilities but the emphasis should be managerial activities: planning, organizing, directing and controlling resources of a major subdivision of an agency or organization.  2. For State employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at or above the level of Transportation Assistant District Engineer.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:  Incumbents must possess Professional Engineer (PE) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S.§20-302. 

Eligibility Requirement:  Candidates must meet the requirements listed above.

Application Instructions:  Submit a cover letter which details your interest and suitability for the position, resume, application (State of Connecticut Application for Examination or Employment Form CT-HR-12) and copies of last two performance evaluations (State employees only) to:

Ms. Cynthia Young
Department of Transportation
Bureau of Engineering and Construction, Room 3137
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT  06131-7546

Applications forms are available at: http://das.ct.gov/HR/Forms/CT-HR-12_Application.pdf.

The filling of this position will be in accordance with reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.  Interviews may be limited to candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the requirements of this position.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Source: via YPTransportation.org

POSITION TITLE:                     Deputy Director of Planning/Environmental

REPORTS TO:                          Director of Planning/Right-of-Way/Permits

LOCATION:                             Honolulu, HI

Image Source: Honolulutransit.org

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was established to provide an efficient and reliable transportation alternative for Honolulu’s congested urban corridor. The project was established in 2005 and is being supported by federal, state and local officials. The system will be a fully automated electrically powered elevated rail system with the first phase completed in 2017 and the remaining segment completed in 2019. This system will provide transportation along 21 stops from East Kapolei to AlaMoanaCenter and will offer stops for commuters and visitors to areas including downtown Honolulu, Oahu’s core commercial and business center and Aloha Stadium, Pearl Harbor and HonoluluInternationalAirport.

By providing rail transportation services, HART will assist in reducing congestion, Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels and offer a safe, affordable and on time service to residents and visitors.

HART is seeking a dynamic and experienced manager to serve as the Deputy Director, Planning and Environment to administer, manage and coordinate HART’s comprehensive transit and environmental planning and land use functions related to the Honolulu High Capacity Transit Corridor Project. The Deputy Director will oversee the preparation of documents to comply with the Federal Environmental Regulatory Acts, Executive Orders, Hawaii Revised Statutes, local land use regulations and agency requirements. The position is responsible for consulting with the Federal Transit Administration and with the Project Management Oversight Consultant on matters related to the Projects transit planning and environmental issues. The Deputy Director will manage up to six employees and will oversee the project management plan as it relates to transit and environmental planning. The Deputy Director will also ensure the enforcement of controls and limitations for specific land use consummate with the objectives and intentions as presented in the Project plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, assign and coordinate activities relating to the planning function of the Honolulu High Capacity Transit Corridor Project as it relates to the total City planning program including land utilization, transportation facilities, public utilities, permitting, and community facilities.

• Provide overall project management expertise and oversight for formulating and conducting transit and technical environmental planning studies

• Meet with Federal, State and City officials, property owners, developers, planning consultants, civic and community groups to communicate the purposes, objectives, methodologies and work program of HART.

• Manage transit planning and environmental aspects of the project and oversee the preparation of documents to comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), other Federal environmental Regulatory Acts including the Endangered Species Act; the Clean Water Act; the clean Air Acts; the National Historic Preservation Act; Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act; and the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21).

• Meet with stakeholders to review and evaluate planning and environmental issues, oversee the evaluation of alternatives and make appropriate recommendations.

• Oversee the independent collection, analysis, assimilation and incorporation of project related data.

• Oversee the preparation of environmental studies and technical reports by contractors and consultants.

• Directly coordinate with Federal, State and City officials as well as consultants and contractors to complete all Project related environmental documents.

• Monitor the evaluation and interpretation of Federal and State regulations applicable to the Project and provide guidance and direction in activities accordingly.

• Oversee the quality management of planning work processes and products and determine the corrective measures that are required where appropriate.

• Oversee the preparation of presentation materials and participation in public information hearings or meetings and public outreach activities related to the environmental planning process.

• Other duties as required and appropriate for a position of this classification and level.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The candidate should possess the following attributes:

• Unquestioned integrity and work ethic.

• Excellent interpersonal communication, presentation, and writing skills.

• Strong management and team building skills. Ability to lead, motivate, mentor, and develop staff.

• Proactive listener, communicator and strong public speaker who is capable of building relationships.

• Strong and proven leader who is not afraid to present new initiatives and ideas. Forward thinking, strategic executive who is capable of collaborating with and building consensus among stakeholders.

• Excellent bi-partisan problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

• Professional judgment (including practical approach, appropriate risk taking and political savvy).

• Demonstrated experience working in large complex operating environments, advising and offering solutions to senior executives by interacting with multiple government/federal agency officials and other stakeholders who potentially have significant divergent views.

• Assist in the design and on-going development of critical systems.

EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor’s degree in planning, environmental, engineering or closely related field of study. Working knowledge of NEPA, HRS Chapter 343, DOT and FTA environmental regulations and processing is a plus. Experience managing a team of technical staff and providing program management guidance is preferred. Also, a minimum of 5 years of experience leading a planning team in the areas of land use planning, environmental planning and transportation planning and ideally experience working with the FTA.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to Gregg A. Moser, Krauthamer & Associates at gmoser@krauthamerinc.com.

Source: via YPTransportation.org

How bad is the road safety problem across the planet? Pretty bad.  The global road death toll has already reached 1.24 million per year and is on course to triple to 3.6 million per year by 2030. In “Roads Kill,” The Washington Post joins with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to bring stories from around the world about this neglected but easily curable public health crisis.

[pageview url="http://roadskillmap.com/#58.53959476664049,89.296875,2" height="500px" border="yes"]

via Reason.TV

Reason.TV has compiled this funny video (with a subtle jab at the Transportation Security Administration) in time for the holiday travel season. As you board planes this holiday, please be aware of 12 actual banned items from the TSA. :)

We have added one more successful year  serving the community at large. Thanks to the regular readers and occasional visitors, who kept me blogging, despite the occasional lull resulting from an overwhelming workload at my day job.  Now that we are all getting ready take some much needed time off to celebrate the holidays, it is time for me to wish you all a wonderful time with your friends and families.

Take the Buzzed Driving Pledge – Image Courtesy: AdCouncil

Did you know that 137 people died in 2011 during the New Year’s holiday period in drunk driving crashes? So, before you get to open the Christmas gifts that others bought for you, you can give the best gift to yourself. Right now. Take the pledge not to drive while buzzed because you don’t want to ring in the new year with a jail sentence and a $10,000 in legal fees and fines (and not to ignore the guilt of hurting yourself and someone else on the road). Join the 14507 people who have already taken the pledge.  Travel safe and celebrate responsibly.

Costs of Driving Driving – Image Courtesy: AdCouncil

Oh, don’t forget to share this with that friend of yours who likes have that one extra beer before leaving for dinner. Or that crazy uncle who like to go hard on the spiked Egg nog.  Help spread the word and help us build a safer community!

If you are one of the last minute shoppers who is yet to buy a holiday present for your children (or for someone you dearly love), I’d recommend getting them a bicycle. Why? A bike not only helps them stay active and lead a healthy life but also helps them learn to be independent (and not depend on you to get around to and from school) and stay focused in their studies.  Besides the provocative title for this post (and the fact that I’m writing this even though I’m a parent, at least yet), there must be some truth to the fact that we might be transporting our children, all caged up in automobiles all the time instead of setting them free on a bicycle (or walking).  Well, at least that’s what these children in Netherlands,  Belgium, France and Britain are hinting at in this video produced by Sustrans, a UK based non-profit organization that promotes pedestrian, bike and public transportation options.

Watching this video promoted me to do a quick comparison of  the academic performance (Mean score in PISA 2012) of children from these countries (I know it is a crude measure but still worthy of pointing out that).  Not to be surprised, they all fared well above our good ol’ USA (and before you ask we are far behind the chart-topping Asian giants China, Japan and Korea): 

Of course, I didn’t get enough time on hand to compare the health indices of these countries but I have no doubt that we might be in for some shocking results, given the ungodly levels of childhood obesity rates we currently have in the United States. I’ll reserve that angle for exploring on another rainy/snowy day. If every school district in the U.S. spent a tiny fraction of its budget on providing/building bike lanes and bike infrastructure, we may soon see a tremendous change in the way our kids learn/live. It may be the perfect antidote for a nation that has ungodly levels of childhood obesity.  Mind you, the US tops every country on Earth when it comes to educational spending (roughly $68.1Billion in 2012, (over 7 % of GDP), which is ~$15,171 on every young person in the system) Here are some alarming data nuggets from the Center for Disease Control:

• Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years.
• The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2010. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period.
• In 2010, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.
• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

More here.  Encouraging more children to take up cycling requires that we provide good infrastructure support, which is sorely lacking in many towns and cities across America.  We have to work, as a community and nudge our decision-makers to spend on these low-cost measures (i.e.,bike lanes) and make our cities bike and pedestrian friendly. At least it is worth exploring, from a scientific perspective, how biking (and walking) helps improve the quality of life for our children (in academic and otherwise).

Dear Readers and Subscribers,

I’d like to take a leaf from the AdCouncil’s buzzed driving campaign and reiterate a key safety message, just in time as the holiday season is kicking up into a higher notch. The holidays are a time to celebrate with friends and family. But it’s also a time to make sure you are keeping safe the ones you love. Whether you’re at a family holiday gathering, a New Year’s Eve bash, or driving around with your little ones, many of our social plans will involve driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the winter holiday season (December 26^th to New Year’s Eve) has one of the highest incidences of drunk driving fatalities.

A few alarming stats:

• During last year’s holiday season alone, 830 lives were lost in drunk driving crashes.
• Last year, deaths in crashes involving drunk drivers increased 4.6 percent, taking 10,322 lives compared to 9,865 in 2011.
• Buzzed driving can cost around $10,000 in fines, legal fees and increased insurance rates.

Ring in the New Year safely and plan ahead and designating a sober driver before they go out this year.

Be safe out on the roads.  Encourage your friends and family to avoid driving buzzed.

USDOT seeks to fill a number of fulltime permanent Community Planners at entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level (grades GS-07, GS-09, GS-11, and GS-12). Selectees would be assigned to one of the following divisions: Organizational Performance Division (RVT-22), Transportation Planning Division (RVT-23), or other divisions within the Volpe Center. This position is located in the Kendall Square area in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The ideal candidates should have an interest in joining our consulting teams to develop, plan, and implement guidance, tools, strategies, policies, plans, and programs related to transportation planning, environmental stewardship, realty, and transportation research. As part of our teams, you will help increase the level of expertise of transportation professionals within our clients’ organizations; support better-prepared transportation plans that serve national, state, regional, and local needs; and advance professional capacity building initiatives across federal and state agencies. You will work with several teams contributing to major projects, and lead other smaller projects. This is a great opportunity for professionals with varying levels of experience in transportation planning, professional capacity building, and strategic and community and stakeholder involvement.

You must have superb analytical, communications, and problem-solving skills, and be able to excel in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment. Transcripts are required. You will be required to submit writing samples if you are invited to interview.

If you or someone you know is interested in this position with relevant experience and a demonstrable record of proven results, I encourage you or them to apply. We are looking for a diverse pool of qualified candidates.

The announcement is posted to Merit Promotion eligible applicants on http://www.usajobs.gov/. Please know that Merit Promotion announcements are the vehicle through which Federal employees generally apply for Federal positions.

The open period is: 12/17/2013 to 12/27/2013

Application deadline: Friday, December 27, 2013

Merit Promotion Announcement:  RITA.VOLPE-2014-0027 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/357546200

Public Announcement: RITA.VOLPE-2014-0026 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/357544200