Transportation Planner/Analyst

CLASSIFICATION: Assistant/Associate Planner/Analyst (Planning Section)

VACANCIES: One

SALARY RANGE: Grade VII of the Salary Plan: $68,294 to $87,422 per year (Depending upon additional qualifications, salary may be up to $100,791)

DESCRIPTION: Under the direction of the Senior Planner: (1) Assist in the preparation of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and related technical reports, (2) Perform air quality planning and policy analysis, (3) Perform various analyses for corridor studies that MTC may conduct or be involved in from time to time to help define RTP investments, (4) Act as a liaison with one or more counties, representing MTC and explaining MTC programs and policies, and (5) Perform various planning analyses to support Planning Section functions as needed.

MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, as listed in the Higher Education Directory, in transportation engineering, transportation, environmental or urban planning, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A master’s degree is preferred. (Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside of the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with the application.

Experience: Completion of a minimum of one year of recent (must be within the last five years), progressive and verifiable professional experience in the field of transportation engineering, transportation planning and analysis, urban planning, or a related field, involving an emphasis on transportation planning. One year of graduate work in a discipline directly related to the position may be substituted for the required experience.

Knowledge of: Principles of transportation and environmental planning. Working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), state/federal air quality regulations and transportation conformity rule, and travel demand forecasting. Working knowledge and skills related to database development and management, spreadsheets and packaged analytic programs.

Ability to: Perform technical transportation and environmental planning and policy analysis. Communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing. Organize, analyze, and document technical and policy analysis using Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access (and other software programs as applicable), and prepare high-impact presentation materials for staff and policy makers. Conceptualize, organize, schedule and successfully manage projects. Take initiative and use sound judgment within established procedural guidelines. Organize and prioritize multiple tasks and respond flexibly to changing section activities and demands. Collaborate with staff from other MTC sections. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff from other agencies and stakeholders. Manage consultant contracts. Carry assignments through to completion on time with minimal supervision.

TYPICAL
ASSIGNMENTS: Under the supervision and direction of MTC’s Senior Planner, the Assistant/Associate Planner/Analyst will:

1. Assist with preparation of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and technical reports such as the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), transportation conformity analysis, and Project Notebook for the RTP. RTP related responsibilities include manage the RTP project database; research special issues and perform technical data analysis for the RTP and related technical documents; write sections of the RTP document as assigned; coordinate with county Congestion Management Agencies (CMAs), transit operators, and other partner agencies and stakeholders on RTP investments and policies; support RTP public outreach and involvement efforts; and make presentations to MTC committees, advisory groups, and other interested parties as required.

2. Perform air quality planning and policy analysis. Air quality planning related responsibilities include: prepare MTC’s transportation conformity analysis for the RTP and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); evaluate current and proposed Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) for state and federal air quality plans; monitor changes in federal and state air quality laws and their implications for the transportation sector; research special issues such as climate change and perform technical air quality data analysis; organize and assist with MTC’s interagency conformity task force meetings; participate in Statewide Conformity Working Group meetings to review emerging air quality issues, regulations and formulate appropriate strategies to address them; present reports and analysis results to various MTC committees and explain air quality and transportation issues to external organizations and their technical and policy committees; and serve on various air quality working groups and technical committees.

3. Perform various analyses for corridor studies that MTC may conduct or be involved in from time to time to help define RTP investments.

4. Act as a liaison with one or more counties, representing MTC and explaining MTC programs and policies. Understand transportation issues and concerns of the counties assigned. Review biennial county congestion monitoring programs; participate in the development of countywide transportation plans and possibly new or extended sales tax measure expenditure plans; monitor major Congestion Management Agency-lead planning efforts and corridor studies; participate on Congestion Management Agency’s technical advisory committees as assigned.

5. Perform various planning analyses to support Planning Section functions as needed.

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:
Submit an MTC Application, response to the supplemental and a current resume to: Human Resources Office, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, CA 94607. Applications submitted without all of the required materials will not be given further consideration. Application materials must arrive in the Human Resources Office before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Applications may be downloaded from MTC’s website, www.mtc.ca.gov. or contact MTC’s Job Hotline, at (510) 817-5818, or email jobhotline@mtc.ca.gov. Leave your contact information and position applying for, to receive the announcement and application forms by mail. Faxed or emailed applications will not be considered.

Supplemental Questionnaire: Prepare a brief policy paper for two of the three policy issues presented below. Please be sure to describe the planning context, policy issues and challenges, analysis, and recommendations. Assume that the policy paper will be presented to policy makers for discussion and action. Limit your responses to a maximum of two sheets of paper (8 1/2" x 11"). Typewritten is preferred.
1. As part of the Transportation 2035 Plan, MTC seeks to make some significant strides in the areas of pricing, focused growth, climate protection, and new transportation revenues. While there will be some infrastructure investments that help us to make progress in these areas, the Transportation 2035 Plan must also lay out a number of action-oriented strategies ranging from legislative actions to policy changes to agency/individual actions that challenges “business as usual” and further advances our vision for the region’s transportation system. These actions would constitute the advocacy platform for the plan. Select one policy area – pricing, focused growth, climate protection, and new revenues – and prepare a policy brief that details an advocacy platform that the region could pursue over the next five to 10 years.
2. Fifty percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the Bay Area are attributable to the transportation sector. The Commission has set-aside $10 million towards the 5-year implementation of an initial set of actions to be pursued jointly by the four regional agencies – MTC, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Association of Bay Area Governments, and Bay Conservation and Development Commission. What specific actions should the region pursue to address climate change? How effective are these actions in reducing carbon dioxide emissions?
3. MTC is the lead agency on the preparation of a program-level Environmental Impact Report for the Transportation 2035 Plan. The Attorney General’s Office has informed several MPOs of the need to consider carbon dioxide emissions and the global warming impacts of implementing the RTP in the EIR. However, while there are a few advisory papers available on the topic, there are no significance criteria established for global warming impacts under CEQA. Should MTC prepare an analysis of global warming impacts in the EIR, and if so, what significance criteria, if any, should we use? If the environmental assessment found significant impacts, what mitigation measures should MTC identify in the EIR?

EMPLOYEE SELECTION PROCESS:
This Job Announcement sets a cut-off date and time for the receipt of applications. Applications will be reviewed as promptly as possible following the cut-off date. Those candidates whose applications show the best combination of training, experience, knowledge, and ability relevant to the position will be invited for an interview.

Interviews will be conducted by a panel whose members are acquainted with the requirements of the position. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel will rate the candidates. The Executive Director may offer the position to the best-qualified candidate.

After the position has been offered and accepted, all other considered candidates will be notified promptly of the filling of the position. The panel will recommend which of the candidates interviewed but not selected may constitute an "eligibility" list, which will remain in effect for six months. In the event the same, or very similar position becomes available during that period, the list may be used for further selection. In the event that a suitable candidate is not found, the position may be reopened for further recruitment.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD:
The initial six months of service in this position constitute a probation period. The purpose of probation is to assist the employee in adapting to the new job, to evaluate the employee’s performance relative to continuation in the position, and to provide for corrective measures when performance is deficient.

SALARY SCHEDULE:
MTC staff employees are paid on the basis of an adopted salary schedule. The cited grade for this position consists of a total of eleven steps with intervals of approximately 2½% available for merit progression.

THE FOLLOWING ARE AMONG THE BENEFITS OFFERED TO EMPLOYEES OF MTC:
· One day per month paid vacation leave; for each year of service, an additional day per year is granted to a maximum of 25 days per year.
· One day per month paid sick leave, with no limit to the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated. (May cash out up to 240 hours of accumulated sick leave upon separation from the Agency.)
· Eleven paid holidays per year.
· Personal business leave; up to three days per year depending upon date of hire.
· Health Benefits Insurance through the Public Employees’ Retirement System (dependent coverage shared by the employee and MTC).
· Agency-paid Vision Care Insurance, employees only (no dependent coverage).
· Agency-paid Dental Insurance (dependent coverage shared by the employee and MTC).
· Agency-paid Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability Insurance.
· Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS); the total contribution paid by MTC. PERS is in lieu of employee contribution to the Social Security System.
· Transit/Parking Subsidy.
· Alternative payroll savings plans (deferred compensation plans, two credit unions).