Performs professional transportation planning assignments and studies to achieve well-defined objectives. Assignments typically limited pertain to specific phases or areas of broad planning activities or research studies. Study or planning areas include, but are not limited to, transportation systems and modes, environmental aspects related to transportation issues, transportation roadside and site aspects and transportation landscape architecture, urban & community planning.

Assignments are differentiated from those at the Transportation Planning Specialist 1 level by variety, complexity and amount of review required. Employee must independently select and apply techniques, interpret and evaluate data, draw conclusions and prepare documents using established procedures and techniques.  Incumbents generally serve as full production staff for projects or as crew leaders. This role may include the leadership of technical support staff and entry level planners, landscape designers, or environmental specialist such that incumbents are called upon to direct and train staff.

Incumbent

• May supervise a field crew or office unit engaged in full-time collection, summarization and routine analysis of transportation planning data relating to physical inventory of transportation facilities and the travel and operating characteristics of transportation systems. A crew or unit will consist of at least two or more permanently assigned subordinates.

Environmental: 

• The TPS 2 is the full-level working professional, completing assigned portions of a large planning activity or may be fully responsible for a less complex planning activity. The studies have well-defined objectives. The TPS 2 employee selects the methods used in obtaining the data, interprets and evaluates the data, draws conclusions and prepares reports. It is expected that a higher-level planner reviews the work performed, on a spot check basis. Positions at this level also can supervise a crew or an office unit.
• In Motor Carrier Services (MCS) serves performs the work of the TPT 2 class and is a lead over lower level TPTs.

Makes preliminary economic, population, land use and traffic projections, to substantiate recommendations for transportation planning in rural, regional or urban areas;

Accomplishes specific portions of multi-modal transportation planning studies, planning and completing less extensive studies with minimum supervision;

Conducts analysis of specific portions of roadway development project sites; collects and analyzes data pertaining to topography, geology, soil, climate, Endangered Species Act, fisheries, vegetation, wildlife, hydraulics, existing utilities, adjoining land use, etc.;

Prepares environmental documents and recommendations regarding specific highway projects to avoid or mitigate environmental impacts using research, graphics, writing, editing and computer aided engineering;

Conducts field reviews, evaluates corridor alternatives, and conducts discipline studies of potential impacts;

Develops design of roadside and site development, mitigation and restoration projects involving analysis of roadside functions and proposal of design solutions for clearing, grading, drainage, erosion control, planting, irrigation, pedestrian areas, etc.; prepares contract plans, specifications, and estimates; performs drawing and drafting by hand or using computer programs and prepares graphic presentation of project proposals;

Inspects roadside development and mitigation construction work for contract compliance and quality of products;

Conducts an assigned comprehensive transportation study or more than one origin-destination study concurrently, with minimum supervision;

Completes assigned studies or investigations in urban and rural transportation system development projects such as corridor studies, classification studies, route numbering, excess property determination, urban area boundaries, institutional roads, scenic routes and interchange spacing;

Analyzes, evaluates and prepares reports and makes specific recommendations concerning the development of rural or urban transportation;

Tests transportation network models to determine travel distribution and future travel demands;

Participates in developing new computer processes and programs, and coordinates data processing in specific planning areas;

Attends meetings and project conferences to discuss department operations, proposals and techniques; receives instructions or provides comments and critiques as a result of investigations;

Participates in preparation of public involvement plans and carries out specific duties such as preparation of materials for public meetings;

May supervise and train lower level technicians, trainees and clerks;

Prepares or reviews environmental impact statements for compliance with regulations and directives and provides comments for correction;

Performs other work as required.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in transportation, landscape architecture, environmental or urban, regional or land use planning, engineering, public or business administration, economics, biology, or natural or physical sciences and one year of professional transportation experience involving analysis and evaluation of transportation issues and problems. Analysis of environmental issues and problems that involve transportation issues will also be considered qualifying experience.

OR

One year as a Transportation Planning Specialist 1 or Transportation Engineer 1, Transportation Planning Technician 3, Transportation Technician 3, Landscape Designer 1, or equivalent classification in city or county agencies.

OR

A Master’s degree in academic fields listed above.

New class: Adopted 11-8-79 (effective 1-1-80)
Revised minimum qualifications: 11-13-00
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, minimum qualifications, and general revisions: 9-19-03
Revised new class code: (formerly 67840) effective July 1, 2007