Job Summary:
This position will be supervised by the Transportation Planning Coordinator and is primarily responsible for supporting administration of the Transportation Planning Process which includes all related Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) business in accordance with state and federal law, and managing projects related to the expenditures of federal planning (PL) funds. This position will work on transportation planning projects, be familiar with the financial operations of the PL funding program, and work with the Transportation Planning Coordinator to support the MPO and Yellowstone County, the City of Billings, Yellowstone County Board of Planning and the Montana Department of Transportation as well as all associated boards and commissions.
Scope of Responsibility:
The Transportation Planner is responsible for high level project management on transportation planning projects that may involve multiple jurisdictions, local, state and federal agencies, and diverse stakeholders. The position is responsible for assisting in the drafting of various documents including transportation project scopes of work, contracts, tracking project budgets, and working with the Transportation Planning Coordinator on reimbursement documentation for the PL program. This position should become familiar with various data analysis including traffic patterns, growth areas, and other pertinent data related to transportation planning.
The position should be very familiar with the current Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). This position works closely with the Transportation Planning Coordinator, Active Transportation Planner, and other planning staff to implement the policies and programs of the MPO.
The Transportation Planner also provides staff support to the Yellowstone County Board of Planning, the Billings City Council, the Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) at the direction of, or in the absence of, the Transportation Planning Coordinator. Requires regular interaction to communicate important transportation issues, requiring considerable tact, sense of timing and the ability to engender trust, plus sensitivity to diverse audiences, where relationships involve cooperation within the overall organization and/or directly interfacing with individual customers or vendors.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Administrative Duties
• All duties will be performed under the direction of the Transportation Planning Coordinator.
• Provides staff support to the Planning Board, City Council, BOCC, TAC, and PCC.
o Attends meetings as required
o Disseminates information to elected officials, governing boards and staff in a timely manner
• Provides information to elected officials and community groups on project activity and MPO related activity as requested.
• Maintains US Census data and state data on population, demographics, mode share, commuting, and other measures.
• Participates in traffic modeling efforts at the local level as well as coordinate with local and state organizations on traffic model data and systems.
• Manages Transportation Alternative Program application submittal, review, and approval processes.
Division Operations
• Prepares long range planning documents and procedures. Attends and facilitates public meetings. Generates maps. Drafts and prepares various documents and publications.
• Provides assistance to the public. Correctly interprets codes and statutes. Participates in revolving counter duty assignments.
• Gathers and interprets transportation-related data, using tools and software for traffic modeling and GIS to inform planning and decision-making processes.
• Technical knowledge and analysis of traffic data, GIS tools, computer modeling, and Transportation Demand Management.
• Preparation of graphics including but not limited to maps, corridor or facility design, or other visuals that would benefit the understanding of the transportation project or system and that could be disseminated throughout the community.
• Reviews land use applications such as subdivision and zoning to review and advise of transportation related improvements, impacts, etc.
• Prepares and manages consulting/contractor studies and projects. Conducts research to determine contents of documents and coordination of funding sources for projects. Presents recommendations to governing bodies.
• Stays current with federal guidance on issues of MPO development and structure, including federal legislation, federal and state performance measures as they relate to transportation planning in the community, and air quality regulations.
• Participates regularly in transportation safety planning with the Montana Department of Transportation as it applies to local planning efforts.
• In coordination with the Transportation Planning Coordinator, works with and cooperates on transit planning efforts with the MET Transit Manager and Transit Planner.
• May serve as staff to the Technical Advisory Committee and Policy Coordinating Committee.
• In coordination with the Transportation Planning Coordinator, assists in development and implementation of annual schedules for review and completion of critical MPO programs as applicable (Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Unified Planning Work Program).
• Be a visible and engaging advocate for the Planning Division as well as the MPO.
Project Management
• Accepts and reviews applications for MPO fund expenditures.
o Presents applications through the Transportation Planning Process
o Presents Planning Board recommendations to City Council
• Solicits proposals for approved development activities/projects.
• Prepares contracts for approved development activities/projects.
• Obtains Council approval for recommended contracts with firms/vendors.
• Ensures all funding source requirements are met in a correct and timely manner.
• Administers grants or coordinates with other organizations/agencies responsible for administering grants for development activities/projects within the MPO.
Personnel Development
• Attends training and conferences related to the MPO as well as Transportation Planning.
• Participates in City, County and MDT personnel training as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications and Skills:
Transportation Planner I:
• Four (4) year degree with major course work in urban or regional planning with significant coursework in transportation planning
• One (1) year of related work experience in government or private sector planning
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
Transportation Planner II:
• Four (4) year degree with major course work in urban or regional planning with significant coursework in transportation planning
• Three (3) years of related work experience in government or private sector planning
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
Working conditions require moderate physical effort, moving between 5 and 25 pounds, where effort is intermittent, less than 15% of the time. Working conditions require high attention to detail and deadlines occasionally (between 15% and 45% of the time). A typical workday involves exposure to multiple disagreeable elements, none of which are of greater than moderate intensity, on an intermittent basis (less than 15% of the time).
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The City retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:
https://billingsmt.gov
210 North 27th Street
Billings, MT 59101
4062376210
Position #202300268
TRANSPORTATION PLANNER I/II
Job Type: In office.
Link to Job Posting and to Apply: Click Here
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