Job Specifications

COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ

Under direction, performs transportation studies and analyses; prepares and presents transportation plans and reports; administers various transportation related programs, and does other work as required.

Transportation Planner I is the trainee level for the professional Transportation Planner series. Incumbents may act as a staff level resource for a particular transportation project or mode; staff a committee and make presentations to committees; and coordinate with local, regional, State and Federal agencies. Incumbents initially work under general supervision and as experience is gained, they perform a broader range of duties and are expected to advance to the Transportation Planner II level within one year.

Transportation Planner II is the journey level in the Transportation Planner series. Incumbents independently perform professional transportation planning assignments with limited supervision. Positions in this class are responsible for one or more major projects. Incumbents may coordinate with local, regional, State and Federal agencies, citizen advisory committees, County departments, and elected officials. Incumbents may prepare and monitor grants and contracts. This class differs from the Transportation Planner I in that in addition to the above, incumbents may provide assistance to lower level transportation planners, and make presentations to community groups and decision making authorities, including the Regional Transportation Commission.

Transportation Planner III is the advanced journey level in the Transportation Planner series. Incumbents use independent judgment to perform diverse, complex assignments which require extensive coordination with local, regional, State and Federal agencies, citizen advisory committees, County departments, other agencies, community groups, business groups, major employers, and elected officials. Incumbents may perform administrative tasks for their work projects, and may manage projects, which involve coordinating the work of one or more transportation planners. Additionally, incumbents are required to make presentations to the public and the Regional Transportation Commission. This class is distinguished from the next lower class of Transportation Planner II by work that is reviewed on a less systematic basis, and involves more complex assignments requiring independent judgment and project management that involves coordinating the work of one or more transportation planners. This class differs from the Transportation Planner IV in that the latter handles the most controversial and technically complex assignments, and is expected to have a broad understanding of all transportation programs, and to assist in tasks associated with administration and management of the work program and budget.

Transportation Planner IV is the highest level in the transportation planner series. Incumbents work with considerable independence to perform the most controversial and technically complex assignments. Incumbents may assist the Principal Transportation Planner and Executive Director in monitoring and preparation of the budget and work program, reviewing and editing the written work of engineers and the lower level transportation planners, and developing strategies to address the most complex and controversial issues. Incumbents may assist in other Regional Transportation Commission internal coordination, administration and management duties in the absence of the Principal Planner or the Executive Director.

Prepare and update elements of the Regional Transportation Plan, the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, the Congestion Management Program, the Short Range Transit Plan for Specialized Transportation, and other plans, programs and reports required by State or Federal agencies or directed by the Regional Transportation Commission. Prepare and implement plans for the above. Conduct investigations, traffic monitoring activities, user surveys, field surveys and studies. Write reports and make presentations for transportation planning projects. Monitor and analyze legislation for impact on transportation programs, activities and funds. Use transportation models and other transportation analysis tools to forecast future traffic volumes, levels of service and patronage of alternative transportation modes. Evaluate transportation options. Research and prepare transportation budgets and financing availability. Administer funding programs in coordination with local, regional, State and Federal agencies. Research grant sources, prepare and review grant applications, and administer project grants. Administer contracts and applications, and administer project grants. Administer contracts and prepare administrative reports. Review environmental documents, plans, projects, and programs prepared for other agencies for consistency with adopted regional transportation planning policies and plans. Write various project and staff reports for the Regional Transportation Commission and committee review. Provide staff support and serve as technical expert to committees. Prepare correspondence. Respond to requests for information on regional transportation issues and programs. Monitor and participate in transportation planning activities of public and private providers of transit and specialized transportation services. Design and implement marketing studies and advertising campaigns. Plan and implement special events. Represent the Regional Transportation Commission and County in meeting with other agencies and community groups. Serve as liaison and technical expert to local, regional, State and Federal agencies, community groups, business groups, major employers and elected officials on regional transportation planning issues, projects and programs. Input, access and analyze data using a computer. Gather, analyze and evaluate data related to regional transportation planning issues. Develop policy recommendations and resolutions for the Regional Transportation Commission, committees and Board of Supervisors. May serve as a project leader for complex transportation planning studies and projects. May assist in budget and work program preparation and administrative analysis. Attends conferences and seminars.

Some knowledge of:

• The principles, practices and trends of transportation planning, transportation engineering, land use planning, public administration, grants management, marketing or the specialty area(s) to which assigned.
• Word processing and spread sheet computer applications.
• Statistical research methods as applied to the collection and tabulation of data.
• Techniques of report writing.
• Techniques of oral presentation.

Working knowledge of the above, plus:

Some knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and trends of transportation planning.
• Transit functions and planning procedures.
• Methods and procedures of mass media communications.
• Transportation financing and operating practices.
• Federal and State grant programs related to transportation studies and programs.
• Techniques of grant and contract budget development and administration.
• Principles of land use planning.
• Legislative process.
• Transportation planning policy formulation.
• Specialty area(s) to which assigned.

Working knowledge of the above, plus:

• Specialty area(s) to which assigned.

Some knowledge of:

• Principles and techniques of project leadership and training.

Thorough knowledge of the above, plus:

Some knowledge of:

• Budget preparation principles and practices.

• Collect, analyze, interpret, organize and present technical statistical data and related information pertaining to
• transportation planning programs.
• Prepare concise written reports, plans, correspondence and resolutions.
• Implement decisions of transportation policy-making bodies.
• Mark effective oral presentations to committees.
• Prepare charts, maps and other graphic presentations.
• Act as staff resource for one or more transportation projects or modes.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, the public, including specific advocacy groups, and local, regional, State and Federal agency officials.
• Provide services to the public in a courteous and effective manner.
• Participate cooperatively and effectively as a contributing team member.
• Produce acceptable work commensurate with the level of appointment within assigned timeframes.
• Learn to input, access and analyze data using a computer.

• Perform the above, plus:
• Understand and apply basic principles of media communications and advertising.
• Prepare clear and concise plans, reports and ordinances.
• Make effective oral presentations to policy-making bodies, employers and the public.
• Speak effectively on policy issues alternatives, recommendations and planning studies to boards, commissions, committees, community groups and the public.
• Prepare transportation policy recommendations.
• Interpret, explain, monitor and advocate legislation.
• Prepare transportation program or grant budgets, grant applications and related reports.
• Prepare and implement project work plans and timelines.
• Prepare work plans for consultant selection.
• Prepare and monitor contracts.

Perform the above, plus:

• Synthesize and explain complex information to the public.
• Complete the more diverse and complex transportation planning assignments.
• Understand, interpret and relate to others the concept, aims and principles of transportation planning.
• Serve as project manager and provide leadership to team efforts.

Perform the above, plus:

• Complete the more controversial and technically complex transportation planning assignments.
• Act as a departmental resource on the full range of transportation pro grams and policies.
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of the Department's budget and work program.
• Assist in the analysis of administrative issues.
• Review the work of staff engineers and lower level transportation planners on assigned projects.
• Make strategic recommendations on the most complex and controversial issues.
• Coordinate department-wide projects.
• Edit written materials.

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Transportation Planner I: Two years experience in a public or private land use or transportation agency/firm, other public agency, or as staff for a public official plus completion of 12 semester units of college coursework in planning, urban studies, public administration, geography, environmental studies, marketing or transportation engineering or a closely related field.

OR

Possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in planning, urban studies, public administration, geography, environmental studies, marketing or transportation engineering or a closely related field.

OR

One year of professional experience in public administration, marketing, grants administration, legislative analysis, budget analysis or a closely related field.

OR

One year of professional planning or resource planning experience.

Transportation Planner II: One year of professional transportation planning experience.

OR

Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in planning, transportation planning, urban studies, public administration, geography, environmental studies, marketing, transportation engineering or a closely related field that included an internship in a

public planning agency. If an internship was not completed, six months

experience or as staff for a public official may be substituted.

OR

Two years professional planning or resource planning experience.

OR

Two years of professional public administration, marketing, grants administration, legislative analysis, budget analysis or a closely related field which included one year of involvement in congestion management, long range transportation planning, transportation funding or programming, planning for a specific transportation mode, transportation project implementation, motorist aid call box systems, transportation planning for persons with disabilities, air quality planning related to transportation planning, transportation demand management, ridesharing or other transportation planning programs.

Transportation Planner III: One year of journey level transportation planning experience.

OR

One year of professional level transportation planning experience AND two years of journey level planning or resource planning experience.

OR

One year of professional level transportation planning experience AND two years of journey level public administration, marketing, grants administration, legislative analysis, budget analysis or a closely related field which included one year of project management and one year of involvement in congestion management, long range transportation planning, transportation funding or programming, planning for a specific transportation mode, transportation project implementation, motorist aid call box systems, transportation planning for persons with disabilities, air quality planning related to transportation planning, transportation demand management, ridesharing or other transportation planning programs.

Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in planning, transportation planning, urban studies, public administration, geography, environmental studies, marketing, transportation engineering or a closely related field may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience below the journey level.

Transportation Planner IV: Two years of advanced journey level transportation planning experience which has included management of a project team and administration of transportation program grants or contracts.

PREVIOUS CLASS TITLES: None

Bargaining Unit: 41 EEOC Job Category: 02

Occupational Grouping: 28 Workers' Comp Code: 0053

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