Transportation Planner 2 (40 Hour)(Travel Demand Modeler)

Introduction

Are you ateam player who wishes to analyze and prepare support data for executivedecision-makers in developing the best programs and plans for the future of ourstate transportation system? 

If so, this opportunity may be for you!

The State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT)is now accepting applications for a Transportation Planner 2 position in the Travel Demand and Air Quality Modeling Unit, in the Bureau of Policy and Planning.

The Travel Demand and Air Quality Modeling Unit is responsible for implementing the DOT’s Statewide Travel Demand Model, utilizing a suite of Cube software programs to estimate future travel, utilizing US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) MOVES software to simulate and forecast pollutant emissions, and for preparing, forecasting, and maintaining demographic and socioeconomic data for use within the models. 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU:

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page! 
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• Work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• CTDOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) and named the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• First Shift
• Full Time, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday
• Location: DOT Headquarters in Newington, CT
• P-4 (Engineering and Scientific) bargaining unit
• This position is eligible to apply for telework after successful completion of the working test period, and thereafter, in accordance with the Telework Policy. The Policy can be found here. Employees in their initial working test period must work on site in the office

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate for this opportunity to advance the statewide travel demand model capabilities to forecast various travel modes and vehicle miles of travel to support the DOT’s existing programs and plans, as well as new requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This position reports directly to a Supervising Transportation Planner or other employee of higher grade. 

There is an extensive amount of preparation, maintenance, and manipulation of data files needed to produce travel estimates and air quality impacts, such as vehicle miles of travel, rail and transit ridership, rail station boarding, and pollutant emissions.  This unit also conducts scenario planning for analysis of proposed Department projects. 

The Transportation Planner 2 position will be part of a team focused on data gathering and analysis for the state’s travel demand model used to forecast vehicle miles of travel and ridership on the state’s transportation system and will work closely with an on-call consultant to update the travel demand model using data obtained from the current Household travel survey.  The selected candidate will also be responsible for ensuring clear and effective communication and working relationships both internally with planning and design teams as well as with other regional, state, and federal agencies. 

Additional responsibilities include:

• Updating, calibrating, and maintaining the Department’s travel demand model
• Preparing and running the travel demand model for Air Quality Conformity
• Analyzing various outputs from the travel demand model 
• Project-level analysis for highway and transit alternatives
• Overseeing the development of future model improvements, including assisting in managing a task-based consultant
• Developing various databases, manipulating large datasets and applications as related to the Department’s travel demand model
• Collecting and analyzing data related to the impacts of projects and programs
• Reviewing studies, surveys, and technical documents for conformance with Department standards, needs, and state and federal laws and regulations
• Utilizing technical computer products and software, including Microsoft Office and travel demand modeling software (CUBE)
• Distributing travel demand model as needed to consultants working on Department projects
• Preparing documentation and flowcharts for new travel demand modeling process and procedures
• Related duties as required

WHO WE ARE:

About Us: As one of Connecticut’s largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,200 individuals statewide in five distinct bureaus. It is our mission to provide a safe, accessible and efficient multimodal transportation network that improves the quality of life and promotes economic vitality for the State and the region. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

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Selection Plan

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited.  If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the individual listed on this job posting. 
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.  

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Important Information After You Apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview. 
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class in the next twelve (12) months.
• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

Connect With Us:
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sharon McIntosh, at Sharon.McIntosh@ct.gov.

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PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Airport Authority this class is accountable for acting as a working lead and/or for performing the most complex tasks in transportation planning studies, programs and related activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

WORKING LEAD LEVEL: 

• As assigned by a supervisor, distributes, prioritizes, oversees and reviews office unit work; 
• Provides staff training and assistance; 
• Conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; 
• Acts as liaison with operating units, agencies, consultant staffs and other outside officials regarding unit office policies and standards; 
• Prepares correspondence; 
• Performs related duties as required.

ADVANCED LEVEL: 

• Performs complex tasks and assignments in developing, coordinating and reviewing transportation planning programs; 
• Recommends, coordinates or participates in transportation demonstration projects; 
• Participates in preparation and negotiation of agreements and contracts; 
• Oversees and participates in corridor studies; 
• Prepares and reviews reports, studies and surveys in compliance with department standards and needs and state and federal laws and regulations; 
• Coordinates activities or projects with local, regional, state and federal agencies, consultants and stakeholders as required; 
• Reviews consultants’ work; 
• Investigates and responds to public inquiries and complaints regarding transportation plans, programs and/or projects; 
• May make presentations at legislative or public hearings; 
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of multi-modal transportation planning theory, practices and methodologies; 
• Knowledge of environmental considerations involved in transportation planning; 
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Ability to
  • develop and use computer software including planning models and other programs related to planning process; 
  • forecast trends based upon empirical data; 
  • comprehend and interpret laws and regulations; 
• Analytical ability; 
• Lead ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Seven (7) years of professional experience in transportation civil engineering or transportation, urban, regional or environmental planning.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

One (1) year of the General Experience must include individual responsibility for the coordination of complex planning projects in a relevant planning area.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Transportation Planner 1 or Transportation Engineer 2.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Geography, Transportation/Regional or Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, or closely related degree
• Experience with principles and concepts of travel demand modeling
• Experience reading and interpreting design plans
• Experience analyzing demographic data for travel demand modeling
• Experience manipulating large, complex datasets
• Experience utilizing CUBE or other travel demand software
• Experience utilizing the Microsoft Office Suite of applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.