Transport planner

A Transport Planner is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing transportation strategies and systems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of movement within urban and rural areas. Their work involves analyzing current transport systems, forecasting future needs, and devising plans that ensure safe, sustainable, and convenient travel for individuals and goods. They collaborate with various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector firms, and the public, to address transportation challenges and opportunities.

Transport planners typically perform the following tasks:

• Gather and analyze data on traffic patterns, public transportation usage, and infrastructure conditions.
• Predict future transportation trends and needs based on demographic, economic, and environmental data.
• Develop comprehensive transport plans and policies that address current issues and future needs, focusing on sustainability and efficiency.
• Create detailed designs for transportation infrastructure projects, such as roadways, bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and public transit systems.
• Oversee the implementation of transportation projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.
• Engage with government officials, community groups, and the public to gather input and ensure plans meet the needs of all stakeholders.
• Develop and advocate for transportation policies that promote safety, reduce congestion, and enhance mobility.
• Evaluate the environmental impacts of transportation projects and develop strategies to mitigate negative effects.
• Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and technical documents to communicate findings and recommendations.
• Ensure all transportation plans and projects comply with relevant regulations and standards.

The following job titles also refer to transport planner:

traffic and highway engineer
traffic planner
development engineer – transport planning
junior transport planner
business change manager, transportation
transport modeller
highway and drainage engineer
transport planner – development planning
senior transport planner
road traffic planner
traffic engineer

Transport Planners typically work in an office environment, but their role also involves fieldwork, attending meetings, and site visits. Office work includes analyzing data, designing transport systems, and preparing reports and presentations. Fieldwork involves assessing existing transportation infrastructure and conditions, which may require working in various weather conditions and environments. Collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, urban planners, and public officials, is common, necessitating strong communication and interpersonal skills. Standard working hours are typical, but project deadlines or public meetings may require additional hours, including evenings and weekends.

A bachelor’s degree in transport planning, urban planning, civil engineering, geography, or a related field is typically required. Advanced degrees or specialized training in transport engineering, traffic management, or urban design can be advantageous. Coursework in transportation systems, traffic engineering, urban planning, and environmental impact assessment is beneficial.

Practical experience through internships, co-op programs, or entry-level positions in transport planning or related fields is highly valuable. Proficiency in using planning and simulation software, such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and CAD (Computer-Aided Design), is essential. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are crucial for developing and presenting transportation plans and policies. Continuous professional development and staying updated with advancements in transport planning technology and industry standards are important for career progression. Certifications or memberships in professional organizations, such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) or the American Planning Association (APA), can enhance job prospects and credibility in the field.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Transport planner is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to transport planner.

transport engineer
environmental scientist
road transport division manager
geographer
environmental expert

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of transport planner.

• Environmental policy: Local, national and international policies dealing with the promotion of environmental sustainability and the development of projects which reduce negative environmental impact and improve the state of the environment.
• Urban planning law: Investments and urban development agreements. Legislative developments regarding construction in terms of environmental, sustainability, social, and financial matters.
• Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
• Geographical routes: The interpretation of geographical information such as locations and distances between them.
• Statistics: The study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments in order to forecast and plan work-related activities.
• Urban planning: Political and technical process that seeks to design the urban environment and optimize land use by considering various aspects such as infrastructure, water, and green and social spaces.
• Statistical analysis system software: Specific software system (SAS) used for advanced analytics, business intelligence, data management, and predictive analytics.
• Traffic engineering: The subdiscipline of civil engineering that applies engineering methods to create safe and efficient traffic flows of people and goods on roadways, including sidewalks, traffic lights, and cycle facilities.
• Public law: The part of law which governs relationships between individuals and the government, and the relationships between individuals which concern society directly.

These skills are necessary for the role of transport planner.

• Identify statistical patterns: Analyse statistical data in order to find patterns and trends in the data or between variables.
• Develop urban transport studies: Study the demographic and spatial characteristics of a city in order to develop new mobility plans and strategies.
• Possess visual literacy: Interpret charts, maps, graphics, and other pictorial presentations used in place of the written word. The graphics used vary from process to process; therefore, the professional must have sufficient knowledge of the field in order to follow and use the information presented.
• Apply statistical analysis techniques: Use models (descriptive or inferential statistics) and techniques (data mining or machine learning) for statistical analysis and ICT tools to analyse data, uncover correlations and forecast trends.
• Analyse transportation costs: Identify and analyse transportation costs, service levels, and equipment availability; make recommendations and take preventive/corrective measures.
• Analyse environmental data: Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
• Analyse test data: Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
• Regulate traffic: Control the flow of traffic by using assigned hand signals, assisting travellers on the road, and helping people cross the street.
• Analyse road traffic patterns: Determine the most efficient road traffic patterns and peak times in order to increase schedule efficiency.
• Conduct environmental surveys: Conduct surveys in order to collect information for analysis and management of environmental risks within an organisation or in a wider context.
• Study traffic flow: Study the synergy between vehicles, chauffeurs, and the transportation infrastructure such as roads, road signs and lights in order to create a road network where traffic can move efficiently and without many traffic jams.
• Analyse transport studies: Interpret data from transport studies dealing with transport planning, management, operations and engineering.
• Analyse transport business networks: Analyse various transport business networks to organise the most efficient mode of transport. Analyse those networks that aim to achieve the lowest costs and maximum efficiency.
• Prepare visual data: Prepare charts and graphs in order to present data in a visual manner.
• Report analysis results: Produce research documents or give presentations to report the results of a conducted research and analysis project, indicating the analysis procedures and methods that led to the results, as well as potential interpretations of the results.
• Monitor traffic flow: Monitor the traffic that passes by a certain point, like a pedestrian crossing. Monitor the number of vehicles, the speed at which they go by, and the interval between the passing by of two successive cars.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of transport planner. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Air traffic management: Thoroughly understand the major activities in air traffic management, such as air traffic control, air traffic flow management, and aeronautic information services.
• Road traffic laws: Understand road traffic laws and the rules of the road.
• Parking regulations: The up-to-date regulations and enforcement procedures in parking activities.
• Civil engineering: The engineering discipline that studies the design, construction and maintenance of naturally built works such as roads, buildings, and canals.
• Local geography: The range of physical and geographical properties and descriptions of a local area, by street names and not only.
• Rail infrastructure: Thoroughly understand the characteristics of railway infrastructure: rail technologies, track gauges, rail signalling, rail junctions, etc.
• Train routes: Know principal train routes and quickly search for relevant information to respond to customer questions. Provide advice on potential shortcuts and itinerary options.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of transport planner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Write leaflets: Create flyers such as recruitment flyers in order to recruit people or publicity flyers in order to contribute to the development of publicity campaigns.
• Promote public transport: Maintain a positive attitude towards public transportation services.
• Use consulting techniques: Advise clients in different personal or professional matters.
• Simulate transport problems: Implement transport-related data in software and computer models to simulate transport issues such as traffic jams in order to find innovative solutions.
• Educate public on road safety: Develop and execute educational and promotional plans to educate the public on road safety, raise awareness, tackle issues such as the proper attitude to adopt as a pedestrian, cyclist, or driver, and improve their ability to identify hazards.
• Manage car park operations: Monitor car park activities and parked vehicles.
• Prepare technical reports: Prepare technical reports that describe the results and processes of scientific or technical research or assess its progress. These reports help researchers stay current with recent findings.
• Restrict bridge traffic: Depending on its present condition or state of repair, restrict the operation of traffic over a bridge.
• Run preventive simulations: Run preventive audits or simulations with new signaling systems; assess operability and detect flaws for improvement.
• Give live presentation: Deliver a speech or talk in which a new product, service, idea, or piece of work is demonstrated and explained to an audience.
• Match vehicles with routes: Match types of vehicles to transport routes, taking into consideration service frequency, peak transport times, service area covered, and road conditions.
• Investigate road accidents: Investigate road vehicle accidents and conduct post-accident debriefing conferences. Analyse the exact circumstances of the accident and present conclusions to the authorities. Provide recommendations on how future accidents may be prevented.

2164 – Town and traffic planners

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References

1. Transport planner – ESCO
2. Transport planner | National Careers Service
3. Transport planner – Prospects.ac.uk
4. Featured image: Public Domain