Now that the mid-term election is over and everybody is debating the performance of candidates, it is time to take a look at how the public reacted to a slew of transportation ballot measures across the country.  Our friends at AASHTO has pulled together a nice summary of articles that explain how these transportation issues played out. One important item that caught my eye was the defeat of Nick Rahall, a top Democrat (from West Virginia) on the transportation committee, lost his seat after 38 years. These midterm election results are plain c

Photo by hjl

razy! Anyways, check out the list below:

• Wisconsin Voters Approve State Transportation Fund Amendment
  Link to article in the Journal Sentinel
• Maryland Voters Approve Transportation Lockbox
  Link to article in The Baltimore Sun
• Traffic-Tied Texans Tap Oil and Gas Taxes for Transportation
  Link to article in Governing
• Voters in Austin, Texas Defeat Urban Rail Transportation Bond
  Link to story on KXAN-TV
• Transportation Measures in San Francisco, Alameda County Win Support
  Link to article in the San Francisco Chronicle
• Seattle Voters Approve Public Transit Package, Reject Monorail Extension
  Link to article in the Puget Sound Business Journal
• Atlanta Transit Expansion Overwhelmingly Approved
  Link to article in The Hill
• Mass Transit Initiative in Tampa Bay Area Fails
  Link to article in The Tampa Tribune
• Transportation Tax Soundly Defeated in Alachua County, Florida
  Link to article in The Gainesville Sun
• Forsyth County, Georgia Voters Approve Transportation Bond Referendum
  Link to article in Forsyth County News
• Driver Cards Rejected by Wide Margin in Oregon
  Link to article in the Statesman Journal
• Cleveland, Maple Heights Voters Smack Down Red-Light Cameras
  Link to Northeast Ohio Media Group article
• Rep. Nick Rahall, Top Democrat on Transportation Committee, Loses Seat After 38 Years
  Link to article in The Hill

Related articles

• Seattle voters approve public transit package, preschool funding
• Austinites defeat urban rail transportation bond
• Highway funding gets overwhelming support from voters

Photo by cogdogblog

The Federal Highway Administration plans to produce deployment guidance in 2015 on connected vehicles to transportation infrastructure owner/operators.  Tell us what would best support decision making and deployments at the state and local level.

National Associations including AASHTO, ITE and ITS America are working together to form a Vehicle to Infrastructure(V2I) Coalition.  What type of organization will best meet your needs?

Please provide comments based on the materials distributed on these topics at the September 12, 2014 public meeting including the initial draft guidance, a handout on the proposed coalition, and the list of supporting V2I products/tools under development. The V2I Deployment Guidance Draft is an initial draft document. USDOT is seeking feedback from State and local Departments of Transportation, transit operators, other operating agencies, and infrastructure owners who are starting to plan for the deployment and use of connected vehicle technologies in their area. Any interested parties may provide comments on the initial draft guidance through Friday, November 14, 2014.

Questions to Consider on the Proposed CV Guidance

• Will the topics covered in the proposed guidance and the companion products being developed provide you with enough support to successfully deploy connected vehicle technologies in your area?
• Are there additional tools, training, or resources that you would like to see developed?
• Any other concerns/comments?

Questions to Consider on the V2I Deployment Coalition

• What are your thoughts about the structure of the proposed coalition?
• How should associated organizations’ and agencies’ leadership be involved?
• What challenges are likely to arise and need to be addressed?
• Any other concerns/comments?

Review source materials and provide comments at: http://www.its.dot.gov/meetings/v2i_feedback.htm by Friday, November 14, 2014.

Several Job Openings at Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning! http://www.foursquareitp.com/careers

Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning (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. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning, Inc. (Foursquare ITP) has the following job openings:
– Project Manager / Senior Transportation Planner
– Transportation Planner
– Transportation Analyst
– GIS Analyst / Graphic Designer

Position Overviews and General Requirements

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, transportation demand management, 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.

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; 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.

The selected candidates must have the breadth of experience 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.

Specific Position Descriptions and Required Qualifications

The Project Manager / Senior Transportation Planner will lead projects and tasks, guide analysis, and contribute to the development of a variety of projects. Candidates should have at least ten (10) years of www.foursquareitp.com experience and at least three (3) years of task or project management experience. Experience managing staff and contributing to and overseeing projects from the technical and administrative sides is required. Appropriate educational background is also required, including preferably a Master’s degree in transportation planning, urban planning, or similar.

The Transportation Planner will conduct analysis and develop written documentation on a variety of projects. Candidates must have at least 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.

The Transportation Analyst will conduct analysis and develop written documentation on a variety of projects. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in transportation planning, urban planning or similar and a demonstrated interest in transportation planning through coursework and internships.

The GIS Analyst / Graphic Designer will support the planning staff on projects by conducting analysis in GIS, developing sophisticated maps, and creating presentation-ready maps using a post-processing software, such as Adobe Illustrator. This position also requires the use of Adobe InDesign to develop final report documents that are visually pleasing and graphically intensive. Experience in these areas and a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in GIS is required.

Résumés and cover letters will be accepted through Friday, November 14, 2014 to resumes @ foursquareitp.com. Candidates must be available to start work in the next three months.

About Foursquare ITP:

Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning (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. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package http://www.foursquareitp.com

Under the supervision and direction of the Clipper Senior Program Coordinator, Implementation & Expansion, the Assistant/Associate Program Coordinator will manage, organize, and implement the following tasks. In most cases, execution of these tasks requires coordination/collaboration with other members of MTC’s Clipper® project management team, transit agency staff, staff with the Clipper Contractor and other consultants.

Clipper® is an all-in-one transit card that keeps track of any passes, discount tickets, ride books and cash value that you load onto it, while applying all applicable fares, discounts and transfer rules. The Clipper card can hold multiple passes, ride books or tickets (which are specific to the transit system being used), as well as up to $300 in cash value at one time and lets the holder customize their card for own transit needs:

The person in this position must have:

• Strong analytical skills necessary to perform and present quantitative analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills and presentation of quantitative information; including the ability to translate technical and financial data/information into a format understandable to internal and external stakeholders, and the general public.
• Strong meeting planning, management, and facilitation skills.
• Attention to detail and data accuracy.

Must be able to:

• Analyze problems,
• Develop strategies and make practical recommendations;
• Prepare correspondence, and reports to a wide variety of audiences
• Manage competing assignments and priorities to meet critical deadlines within short time constraints.
• Work independently.
• Use initiative and sound judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Develop consensus among local agencies and consultants on various issues.
• work efficiently as part of a team, and develop and maintain strong and effective working relationships with key internal and external staff.
• The ability to interpret, comply, and quickly respond to frequently changing priorities.
• The ability to creatively solve problems, take personal initiative, and carry out assignments with minimum supervision.
• Be flexibile and willing to evolve to challenges

Click here to learn more and to apply.

Lea+Elliott is seeking a junior to mid-level planner with an interest in transit and a background in LEED to be based in Northern Virginia either at our regional office at Dulles Airport or at a project office.  Work assignments will include transit projects throughout the eastern United States.  Under guidance and supervision, duties may include:

• Serving as a liaison between design reviewers and other planners to ensure that the teams are kept aware of relevant project issues.
• Assisting in the evaluation of contractor’s management plans and providing comments on design documents as part of the design review process.
• Serving as LEED Coordinator on one or more transit projects
• Representing client in meetings with project contractors.
• Ensuring compliance of contractors with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, primarily environmental.
• Assistance with property acquisition activities and locality coordination as needed.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Urban Planning (specialty in Transportation or Environmental) or Transportation Engineering. Masters degree preferred.
• At least 2-4 years of full-time relevant planning and/or project experience including involvement in at least one LEED project.
• Proficiency in navigating architectural and engineering drawings and specifications.
• Excellent writing skills.
• LEED Green Associate accreditation required, and candidate must demonstrate ability to become LEED AP accredited within one year if not already accredited.
• AICP certification or the ability to obtain same is desired but not required.
• Experience with FTA, State, or local transportation planning and environmental processes a plus
• Technological aptitude including comfort with Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to be open to new work responsibilities.

Please respond to jobopenings@leaelliott.com with cover letter and resume.

Pretty cool video that offers a nice overview of the 2nd avenue subway project and its impact on residents and businesses in the Upper East Side neighborhood. The size and scope of the project in addition to the geographical location makes for an interesting combination..

Related articles

• MTA releases Second Avenue subway photos
• Next Second Avenue subway phase gets some funding

The slide deck from EMBARQ’s recent webinar on parking & transit oriented development (TOD).

If you have not already doing it, highly recommend following EMBARQ’s slideshare channel. You can regularly see such informative material made available.

TranSystems, a national transportation engineering, design and planning firm, seeks a candidate to provide detailed technical support for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and transportation planning projects.

TranSystems is seeking a Transportation Planner/Systems Analyst candidate to provide detailed technical support for intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and transportation planning projects. The successful applicant must share a mixed passion for transportation systems and the application of technology in transportation.  Candidates should have a basic understanding of public transportation technology concepts such as location tracking, mapping and geographic information systems (GIS), vehicle dispatching, vehicle/driver scheduling, wireless communications, and enterprise software.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Transportation or Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning, or a related major and 1 year of experience in related transportation technology, planning, and/or data visualization OR Master’s degree in Transportation or Civil Engineering, Transportation Planning or related major with no relevant experience
• Basic computer programming skills, particularly related to large dataset analysis and visualization.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Project and Publisher)
• Proficient data analysis and interpretation skills coupled with a familiarity with statistical software such as SAS, SPSS, R and ArcGIS.
• Willingness to travel 10 to 20% of the time.  The position covers projects throughout the U.S.
• Experience with demonstrable complex problem-solving is required.
• Capability to manage projects/tasks as directed.
• Ability to work as a member of a team or perform independent work
• Excellent oral, written, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• No visa sponsorship assistance
• No relocation assistance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 2+ years of experience related to transportation technology, planning, and/or data visualization
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)
• Marketing and proposal development experience is a plus
• Fluency with one or more of the following will be considered advantageous: MATLAB, Ruby, PHP, Python/NumPy, HTML, Java, SQL and NoSQL databases
• Experience in the public transportation industry

Primary responsibilities include the following:

• Be capable of performing office and field technical work associated with various aspects of ITS and planning, including strategic planning, procurement and deployment of transportation technologies; development of technical designs; transportation technology research; evaluation of deployed technologies at agencies; and analysis and visualization of transportation data to develop decision support tools for public transportation agencies.
• Have the ability to take direction from senior staff, and to lead and deliver assigned tasks independently.
• Be able to work directly with external parties (e.g., clients, transit industry vendors) with minimal guidance from senior staff to complete assigned tasks, as necessary.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Proficient technical writing including preparing memos, reports and presentation materials, is required.
• Be capable of analyzing/solving complex transportation planning or engineering problems.
• Use software effectively and make timely and informed recommendations.

Click here to learn more and to apply