Photo by Aimee Custis Photography

Position Title: Research Analyst

Number of Open Positions: One, full-time.

Hiring Organization: Mobility Lab, a program managed by the Destination Sales & Marketing Group, Limited on behalf of Arlington County Commuter Services.

About the Mobility Lab Program

Mobility Lab is a program of Arlington County, Virginia’s transportation demand management bureau, Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS). The program has four main functions. One is hosting and co-sponsoring events related to transportation demand management (TDM) and transit-oriented development (TOD). The second is sharing news and information about TDM and TOD via the mobilitylab.org web site. The third is educating policy-makers about TDM.

The Research Analyst will help fulfill Mobility Lab’s fourth function, conducting research. At present, Mobility Lab’s primary research efforts focus on the following four categories:

1. Evaluation and measurement of other ACCS programs.
2. Public-opinion and other market research related to transportation.
3. Fulfilling data and information requests from ACCS programs, as well as groups outside of ACCS and Arlington County government.
4. Special projects.

Prior Mobility Lab research studies may be viewed at http://mobilitylab.org/research/mobility-lab-research-catalog/

Since TDM is an inherently public-facing transportation specialty and the companion elements of the Mobility Lab program are oriented towards outreach and communication, the research program must continuously strike a balance between serving the fast-paced, ever-changing needs for information from colleagues, and maintaining high standards of quality for projects that span many months or years. The program must also provide information to ACCS staff that is, technically sound, easy-to-understand, and actionable.

The research program is highly visible and receives considerable scrutiny from within ACCS.

Why are We Hiring for this Position?

The Mobility Lab Research Director and colleagues have identified a need to integrate program-evaluation-and-measurement research functions further into the day-to-day work of ACCS programs.

As one example, Mobility Lab will work with Arlington Transportation Partners (the business-outreach program of ACCS), to measure the impact of new transportation benefits or outreach on mode shift by analyzing small-scale pre- and post-intervention datasets in partnership with ATP staff as they engage employers regarding offering or expanding TDM benefits to their employees.

The research program will also enhance its integration with other ACCS programs by supporting information gathering for those programs. This will include providing regular written and oral synopses of relevant academic and public research to program staff, with key takeaways that the programs can use to enhance their work. The research program will also provide streams of regularly updated market information, such as demographic and transportation-related Census data, news of business relocations, and new residential construction.

In order to fulfill these new functions, Mobility Lab needs to expand its in-house capacity for collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing data and making informed, evidence-based, data-driven recommendations. The Research Analyst will add knowledge of quantitative-research data collection, statistics, and data management.

Adding in-house capacity will complement existing and future research work managed by Mobility Lab but conducted by consulting firms.

The Research Analyst will report directly to the Research Director. The Research Analyst will also interact with other Mobility Lab and ACCS staff.

Responsibilities

• Draft survey questionnaires for approval by Research Director and other stakeholders.
• Assist with programming and monitoring of internet-based surveys.
• Analyze survey data using descriptive statistics and significance tests, and compare that data with other spatial and non-spatial data.
• Summarize and present analysis findings through written, visual, and oral communication.
• Assist the Research Director and ACCS-program staff with analysis of contact databases, including query and report writing.
• Track and report on outside research relevant to ACCS programs, as well as employer, labor-market, transportation, and demographic data.
• Assist in the creation of a database for the collection of performance metrics for ACCS programs. Lead maintenance and updating of the database for reporting to the Commonwealth of Virginia and other stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Strong critical-thinking ability and capacity to build evidence-based arguments.
• Excellent analytic and technical skills that support critical thinking and evidence-based arguments.
• General knowledge of common primary and secondary sources of data, as well as a curiosity for exploring, discovering, and using new sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to be proactive in identifying and offering solutions to problems.
• Proficiency with common statistics packages (such as SPSS, SAS, R, or similar), Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Access.
• One to three years of professional experience in research analysis.
• Proficiency with any geographic information systems (GIS) software is strongly preferred.
• Experience designing and fielding internet-based surveys and analyzing collected data using common statistical tests preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in geography, business, public policy, economics, sociology, psychology, computer science, statistics, or urban planning. Candidates with degrees in economics, business, sociology, psychology, computer science, and statistics, must demonstrate an interest in cities, transportation, and/or marketing. 

Salary and Benefits

Salary will be commensurate with experience, but in the range of $50,000 to $65,000 per year.

Participation in DS&MG’s 401(k) plan, health insurance (including dental and vision), short- and long-term disability, as well as direct payment of transit/vanpool costs up to $130 per month (up to $1,560 per year) OR bike-commuting costs at $20 per month ($240 per year), and payment of annual Capital Bikeshare membership fees ($75 per year). A “compressed” work schedule that allows employees to take every-other Friday as a day off after six months of employment per supervisor approval. Total paid time off for vacation and illness of 128 hours (16 days) per year. An additional 10 paid holidays per year.

Note that this is not a position with Arlington County Government.

To Apply

Please send a letter of introduction, resume, three professional or academic references, and one writing sample that demonstrates your ability to communicate quantitative information. One sample of any work that demonstrates your ability to communicate quantitative information through visuals is also welcome, though not required.

Send materials in PDF format to stephen.crim@mobilitylab.org. Please include the phrase “Mobility Lab Research Analyst” in the Subject line. No phone calls please.

Photo by Elvert Barnes

The Special Projects Officer will assist with the implementation of Metro’s approved Public Participation Plan (PPP) to improve two way communication to boost inclusiveness of the public for all major initiatives.   This position will develop communications plans as well as plan and host opportunities for riders, the public, community organizations, advocacy groups, and special interest groups to provide feedback on major service, capital projects, and policy initiatives under consideration at Metro.

This position will schedule, coordinate and track public activities and ensure outreach is conducted in the appropriate service areas.  Traditionally hard-to-reach populations must be engaged.  This position will also serve as a brand ambassador for Metro at a wide variety of events and meetings, which includes setting up events, giving presentations, taking surveys and other communication strategies.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter and well organized. Has experience working with community groups and non-profits; understands minority, ethnic and religious populations and possesses a high level of cultural sensitivity.  Candidate also has excellent presentation skills, is comfortable in front of large and small crowds and has the ability to simplify complex information based on the audience.  Additional preferences include bilingual, flexible work schedule (evenings, weekends, and early mornings), valid driver’s license and ability to lift 25lbs.

www.wmata.com/careers  JOB ID: 141282

Subtlety is not his game, I guess. Poor chap gets caught reading this book on the subway, while sitting next to a lady. It makes you wonder what was his “success rate” meeting women on subways after he finished reading this book. Guys like this are one reason why you can’t help but fall in love with public transportation, right? I bet you can never catch someone reading this in a car.

step 1: hide that book

A photo posted by Loni (@lonidee) on Dec 12, 2014 at 9:35am PST

This position serves as the Senior Transit Analyst for the Washington Suburban Transit Commission (WSTC). The Washington Suburban Transit Commission (WSTC) is a bi-county agency serving Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. The Commission facilitates planning, coordination and funding for transit services in the region, including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Montgomery County Ride On, Prince George’s County The Bus, and other providers in the region. The primary focus of this position is on providing lead worker level of planning work at the WSTC. This position will work closely with the staff of the Washington Suburban Transit Commission and the Director of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Washington Area Transit Office. Salary is $43,000- $55,000.

Examples of duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

– Responsible for the analysis and evaluation of existing and proposed transit service.
– Conduct analysis of transit services in the region and develop recommendations to improve the efficiency and productivity of these services and an understanding the importance of transit service to provide connectivity to residents throughout the region, with particular emphasis on Title VI equity considerations.
– Participate in bus planning studies led by WMATA and other regional providers.
– Conduct analysis of transit ridership and cost trends as well as service change proposals, and preparation of recommendations for service improvements.

Questions, cover letters, and resumes should be sent to the attention of Mr. Sean Egan, Washington Suburban Transit Commission, 4351 Garden City Drive, Suite 305, Hyattsville, Maryland 20785 at wstcjobs@gmail.com. EOE.

via YPTransportation.org

Photo by Elvert Barnes

Metro’s Office of Planning is hiring a planner for its Regional Planning branch. The job description and information on how to apply can be found on the WMATA Careers page and the job code is 141283. The job will be open until 11:59pm on 12/24/14.

About the position:

The open position is within the Regional Planning (REGP) program area in Metro’s Office of Planning. The REGP program area focuses on developing and executing the Authority’s long-range regional transit system plan and advocating for Metro’s short and long-term infrastructure and operational needs at local, regional, and state levels, with an emphasis on ensuring integration of Metro’s plans across all the ongoing planning activities in the region. Planners in this position manage long-range planning projects, prepare technical reports/presentations, represent Metro at project stakeholder meetings, and analyze/recommend regional transit policy.  The successful candidate will possess extensive capabilities in regional planning, possess strong communications skills, and be able to represent Metro across the region. The applicant will be particularly skilled at translating highly technical information into written documents, graphics, and presentations that are easily digested by a wide range of audiences. Knowledge in the areas of regional transportation planning and forecasting, the metropolitan planning process, transit funding options and considerations, and project evaluation and alternatives analysis is strongly preferred.

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• WMATA’s Most Recognized Voice Has No IP Rights
• Fairfax County signs off on federal loan for Silver Line construction
• Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting to Ride Metro’s Flashy New 7000-Series Cars

Via City Fix Blog

Photo by mariordo59

The World Bank and EMBARQ Mexico – in collaboration with TransMilenio S.A. – will host the third annual “Building Leaders in Urban Transport Planning” course, which provides tools for systematic integrated mobility planning, corridor management, public transport planning evaluation alternatives, governance, finance, and public-private partnerships – all of which are key issues facing Latin American cities and cities worldwide. The course will use a hands-on learning approach, making extensive use of case studies, group exercises, and site visits – all aimed at highlighting linkages between the various components of the urban transport system. The deadline to apply to the course is January 9, 2015.

The event is part of the World Bank’s “Leadership in Urban Transport Planning” (LUTP) capacity building series, which develops leadership, awareness, and implementation strategies for urban integrated mobility planning. It is designed specifically for senior level decision makers at the national, provincial or city level – those who have a responsibility for urban transport at the policy making level, rather than a purely technical level. Academics, consultants, and other members of civil society are also encouraged to apply.

The Building Leaders in Urban Transport Planning course will consist of two parts. The period from January 19 to February 21, 2015, will be devoted to self-study, covering topics in land use and transport planning, and incorporating the environmental and social issues of urban transport planning. Participants will then partake in a seven-day hands-on workshop from February 22 to February 28 in Bogotá, Colombia – a city with a track record of leadership in sustainable urban transportand development. Following the workshop, participants will also have the option to partake in a six-month mentoring program to provide advice and guidance as participants work on city-level projects.

In addition to other special guests, #LUTPColombia 2015 will have the following distinguished faculty:

• Thierry Denis Desclos, Urban Transport Specialist, World Bank
• Ivan Jaques, Head of Energy Efficient Cities Initiative, ESMAP
• Arturo Ardila, Urban Transport Specialist, World Bank
• Dario Hidalgo, Director of Research and Practice, EMBARQ
• Adriana Lobo, Director of EMBARQ México
• Fernando Páez, Transport Director, EMBARQ México

Learn more about the event and apply here.

The event will be conducted in Spanish, and is organized with support from the Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). Follow updates on the proceedings on social media from @EMBARQMX and#LUTPColombia. 

Related articles

• CicLAvia heads south next weekend: map and info
• Bogota mayor defends programme for women’s safety on buses

Job Title: Senior Planner
Job ID: 4935
Location: Lakeside- 21st Floor

Marketing Statement

English: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ride BART to a satisfying career that lets you BOTH 1) make a difference to Bay Area residents, and 2) enjoy excellent pay, benefits and stability. BART is looking for people who like to be challenged, work in a fast paced environment, and have a passion for connecting over 400,000 daily riders to work, school and other places they need to go. BART offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health and medical benefits, paid time off, plus CalPERS retirement in the future.

Pay and Benefits
BART offers one of the most comprehensive compensation and benefits programs you will find anywhere. We pay at rates that are strongly competitive in the labor market, and complement our pay program with an outstanding benefits package. Benefits include the renowned CalPERS pension, excellent medical, vision, and dental coverage, supplemental insurances, excellent paid holidays and vacation, as well as two investment programs, one of which is entirely funded by BART on your behalf. BART also saves you money in your paycheck because no deductions are made for Social Security.

Pay Rate
$83,721 – $108,837 /Annually (AFSCME Pay Band E)

Posted Date: Thursday, November 20, 2104.  This announcement will be used to establish a pool of eligible candidates for vancancies that may occur within the next (12) months.

Closing Date : Thursday, December 11, 2014

Reports To
V. Menotti
Days Off
Saturday and Sunday
Who May Apply
All current BART employees and qualified individuals who are not yet BART employees.

Current Assignment
The Office of Planning and Development is recruiting a Senior Planner to support various District initiatives. Each position will be responsible for a combination of planning duties in support of station area planning, access and system expansion projects as well as developing and coordinating the acquisition of funding for projects and programs with other transportation agencies; and performs related duties as assigned.

The selection for each position will be based on the candidate’s qualifications and needs of the Department; each candidate will demonstrate a combination of the following criteria beyond the minimum qualifications:

• *Station Area Planning, including consideration of station access and capacity.
• * Understanding of local land use decision making processes, and experience coordinating with local governments.
• * Experience with place making, to better connect BART fare gates to surrounding communities and enhance the transit customer experience.
• *Travel markets, and regional growth policies to be used in transportation modeling and analysis assignments.
• *Formulating policies and strategies for implementing station area, access, or system expansion plans.
• *Relationship between land use, transit and travel demand.
• * Knowledge of laws and regulations applicable to transit system development (i.e. California Environmental Quality Act, Federal Title VI, Americans with Disabilities Act, California Title 24).
• *Project management, including scope, schedule and budget, and organizing and directing staff and consultant resources.
• *Establishing and maintaining working relationship with District staff, various departments, internal and external agencies, the public, and other key stakeholders.
• * Proven ability to engage the public and key stakeholders with effective communication techniques, particularly as it relates to emerging social media strategies.

Essential Job Functions
1) Performs all planning duties necessary to advance transit-oriented development planning, service extensions, service capacity, as well as generates feasibility analyses and technical reports as required.

2) Applies understanding of travel markets, and regional growth policies to transportation modeling and analysis assignments.

3) Conducts environmental impact assessments; researches, assembles, analyzes, and presents data; coordinates inter-departmental, outside agency and public review of plans; presents recommendations to District management.

4) Develops, recommends or assists in formulating policy and strategies for implementing plans and planning services, and secures capital funds from diverse sources.

5) Develops scopes of work for feasibility studies, policy research, and project evaluation.

6) Develops and maintains effective, collaborative relationships with internal and external partners in order to advance the District’s objectives.

7) As assigned, serves as District’s representative to coordinate on joint agency planning projects; reviews plans, reports, and studies from other agencies which reference District plans; comments on plans, reports, and studies.

8) Prepares and monitors project budgets to ensure project is completed within budget guidelines and pursues funding opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:
A Bachelor’s degree in transportation planning, urban planning, economics, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

Experience:
Three (3) years of (full-time equivalent) verifiable professional experience in transportation planning and analysis.

Other Requirements:
Must possess a valid California driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving
record.

Substitution:
Additional professional experience as outlined above may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis. A college degree is preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Current and complex principles and practices of transportation planning and analysis.
• Statistical techniques, methods and formulas.
• Methods and techniques of financial cost/benefits analysis.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Related Federal, State, and Local codes, laws, and regulations.

Skill in:

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Independently performing the most difficult short- and long-term District planning duties. in support of agreed goals.
• Coordinating the inter-departmental activities and inter-organizational teams.
• Identifying and responding to community transportation needs.
• Understanding and following oral and written instructions, and communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Selection Process

• This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Applications will be screened to assure that minimum qualifications are met. Those applicants who meet minimum qualifications will then be referred to the hiring department for the completion of further selection processes.
• The selection process for this position may include a skills/performance demonstration, a written examination, and/or an individual or panel interview.
• The successful candidate must have an employment history demonstrating reliability and dependability; provide copies of certificates, diplomas or other documents as required by law, including those establishing his/her right to work in the U. S.; pass a pre-employment medical examination which includes a drug and alcohol screen, and which is specific to the essential job functions and requirements. Pre-employment processing will also include a background check. (Does not apply to current full-time District employees unless specific job requires additional evaluations)
• The selection process for this position will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Application Process
External applicants may only apply online, at www.bart.gov/jobs. Applicants needing assistance with the online application process may receive additional information by calling (510) 464-6112.

Current employees are strongly encouraged to apply online, either at www.bart.gov/jobs, or on WebBART. Current employees may also apply using a BART paper application by delivering the completed form to the Human Resources Department, or by mailing it to P. O. Box 12688, Oakland, CA 94604-2688.

All applicants are asked to complete the application in full, indicating dates of employment, all positions held, hours worked, and a full description of duties. On line applicants are invited to electronically attach a resume to the application form to provide supplemental information, but should not consider the resume a substitute for the application form itself.

Applications must be complete by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition (cancer-related), genetic information or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

The BART Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities or for religious reasons. Please advise the Human Resources Department of any special needs in advance of the examination by calling (510) 464-6112.

Qualified veterans may be eligible to obtain additional veteran’s credit in the selection process for this recruitment (effective Jan. 1, 2013). To obtain the credit, veteran’s must attach to the application a DD214 discharge document or proof of disability and complete/submit the Veteran’s Preference Application no later than the closing date of the posting. For more information about this credit please go to the Veteran’s Preference Policy and Application link at www.bart.gov/jobs.
Other Information
Please be prepared to present documentation in support of any required licenses, degrees, or certifications upon request.

Note
When you have successfully applied for this position you will receive an auto reply e-mail acknowledging that your application was received for this position. Please retain a copy of the e-mail for your records. If you receive an auto reply that does not specifically reference this position, please call the Employment Help Line at (510) 464-6112 for assistance.

To verify submission of your application, click on the ‘My Career Tools’ link at the top of the ‘Careers Home Page’ after submitting your application to view the list of applications you have submitted (including application date and status). If you have further questions, please call the Employment Help Line at (510) 464-6112, between the hours of 8:15am – 5:00pm, Monday- Friday.

Program Manager for a new Global Designing Cities program

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is seeking a Program Manager for a new Global Designing Cities program, a multi-year initiative that will develop a global street design guide and provide technical assistance on street and public space design to cities around the world. Applicants should demonstrate past experience and leadership in the fields of city planning, design, and public policy, with background knowledge in transportation, land use, urban development, and other city issues in an international context. For this position, NACTO is looking for a strong communicator with a keen eye for understanding the design of city streets as part of an overall campaign to improve cities and traffic safety in general.

The Global Designing Cities Program Manager will be assisting with the development of street design content that connects best practices from global cities with the international realm over the next several years, as well as conducting trainings and outreach with partner organizations. The position works closely with NACTO’s Executive Director and Global Streets Design Director as well as steering committees to ensure the effective implementation and dissemination of the initiative’s core goals. The Program Manager must be highly self-directed, and willing to accommodate a schedule with occasional travel to national conferences, trainings, and other meetings. The ideal candidate will have
experience and standing in city street design at a national or international level.

Core activities for the Program Manager include:

• Original content production for street design targeting the international market, with significant writing and graphic production.
• Contributing original ideas for graphic styles of streetscape renderings, imagery, presentations, and layout that communicate content most effectively.
• Work closely in a team environment on the development and dissemination of Global Street Design principles that provide the key principles of world-class street design, while also providing a platform and the means to translate these principles to the local conditions of select focus cities and countries.
• Assistance with coordination of oversight committees and peer-to-peer activities during development of content and dissemination, working closely with partners.
• Support in training and outreach in select focus international cities in partnership with local organizations and governments.
• Assistance with project management, including support for fundraising and grant management, program budgets, and working with grant-making partners.
• Fostering relationships with partners, city staff in target communities, leadership, and partners.

Minimum Qualifications: Graduate Degree in Urban Planning, Transportation Engineering, Urban Design, Public Policy or a related field and 3 years of experience, or a Bachelor’s Degree and an equivalent amount of experience; strong writing skills, graphic production skills in Adobe Creative Suite, proficiency in GIS.

Additional Desired Qualifications: Experience working with national, state or city standards in street design; experience working on the built environment in an international policy context; proficiency in 3-D modeling software such as SketchUp.

Salary Range: $65,000 – $80,000

Email a cover letter, resume and work samples to the Global Street Design Director at hr@nacto.org. Deadline for applications: December 1, 2014

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that represents large cities on transportation issues of local, regional and national significance. NACTO views the transportation departments of major cities as effective and necessary partners in regional and national transportation efforts, promoting their interests in federal decision-making. We facilitate the exchange of transportation ideas, insights and best practices among large cities, while fostering a cooperative approach to key issues facing cities and metropolitan areas. As a coalition of city transportation departments, NACTO is committed to raising the state of the practice for street design
and transportation by building a common vision, sharing data, peer-to-peer exchange in workshops and conferences, and regular communication among member cities. We believe that by working together, cities can save time and money, while more effectively achieving their policy goals and objectives.

Fellow

• Start Date: As soon as possible
• Duration: 6-month Fellowship
• Salary: $2,500/month

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), a non-profit association which represents large cities on transportation issues of local and national importance, seeks a recent graduate or current graduate student in the field of urban planning, sustainable transportation, architecture, urban design, or public policy for a six-month paid fellowship. The fellow will work on geographic and statistical projects related to urban street design and bike share in a national and international context.

Responsibilities will include:

• Conduct statistical and geospatial analysis to assist with the creation of NACTO’s Bike Share best practices guide, Transit Streets Design Guide and Global Streets Design Guide.
• Collect and write up case studies on sustainable transportation topics.
• Data collection and research on transportation issues, including direct outreach to cities.
• Production of visually clear, concise graphics to communicate information.

The desired candidate is self-motivated with experience finding and analyzing data sets, creating data
maps and charts, and conducting research around issues of sustainable transportation and major trends in
urban planning, design, and policy.

Qualifications:

• Graduate Degree (preferred) or Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Public Policy, Urban Design, Transportation Systems, or Architecture with a demonstrated interest in sustainable transportation.
• Relevant internship, graduate-level research, or work experience in sustainable transportation, urban development, and related fields.

Competencies Desired

• Mapping: ArcGIS or open-source GIS applications
• Graphics: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator), SketchUp
• Data Analysis: Access, Stata, SPSS, or similar
• Experience with data visualization tools and 3D modeling, some knowledge of programming languages used in interactive graphics or web development a plus

Cover Letters and Resumes should be sent to hr@nacto.org by November 26th, 2014.

Click here to apply