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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Traffic Planner

💰 $70,000 - $115,000

TransportationUrban PlanningCivil Engineering

🎯 Role Definition

An Urban Traffic Planner designs, analyzes, and implements transportation solutions that improve traffic flow, multimodal safety, and accessibility in urban and suburban environments. The role requires applying transportation planning principles, traffic engineering practices, modeling and simulation tools, and community engagement to deliver evidence-based projects — from traffic impact studies and signal timing plans to corridor studies, transit priority schemes, and complete streets policies. The Urban Traffic Planner collaborates with public agencies, consultants, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams to translate policy goals into practical, fundable, and constructible improvements while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Transportation Technician or Traffic Technician
  • Junior Civil Engineer / Assistant Traffic Engineer
  • GIS Analyst or Planner I

Advancement To:

  • Senior Traffic/Transportation Planner
  • Traffic Operations Manager or Traffic Engineering Supervisor
  • Principal Transportation Planner or Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Transit Planner or Transit Operations Analyst
  • Road Safety Auditor or Vision Zero Coordinator
  • Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and execute comprehensive traffic impact studies for new developments, preparing detailed methodologies, conducting data collection (turning movement counts, gap studies, pedestrian counts), performing operational analyses, and providing defensible mitigation recommendations aligned with local ordinances and LOS/Multimodal standards.
  • Develop, calibrate, and run microsimulation and macroscopic traffic models (VISSIM, Aimsun, Synchro/CORSIM, VISUM, TransCAD, EMME) to evaluate intersection, corridor, and network performance under current and future scenarios and to test alternatives such as signal timing, lane reconfigurations, and transit priority.
  • Prepare signal timing and coordination plans, retiming corridors using Synchro/TRANSYT, implement adaptive signal strategies, and produce field-ready timing tables, phase diagrams, and controller files; coordinate with traffic signal technicians and operations teams for deployment and validation.
  • Conduct safety analyses and crash data reviews using state crash databases and HSIS-quality approaches to identify high-injury networks, evaluate countermeasures (roundabouts, protected lefts, pedestrian refuges), and prepare Road Safety Assessments and Vision Zero action items.
  • Design multimodal corridor improvement plans that integrate pedestrian, bicycle, transit, freight, and micromobility needs — applying Complete Streets principles, ADA accessibility standards, and context-sensitive design to deliver equitable mobility outcomes.
  • Lead travel demand forecasting and scenario planning using regional models and tools (TransCAD, EMME, travel demand modules) to forecast trip generation, mode split shifts, and to test policy/land use alternatives for long-range planning and environmental review.
  • Manage traffic data collection programs including deploying automated counters, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi travel time collection, turning movement counts, video analytics, and manual counts; ensure QA/QC of raw data and maintain data repositories for re-use in modeling and performance monitoring.
  • Produce detailed technical memos, engineering reports, permit submittals, and environmental sections (NEPA/CEQA input) that clearly explain assumptions, model calibration, mitigation measures, cost estimates, and implementation phasing to support regulatory review and project approvals.
  • Coordinate multimodal public engagement and stakeholder outreach activities: prepare presentation materials, lead open houses and technical workshops, capture community feedback, and translate community priorities into refined project alternatives and evaluation criteria.
  • Prepare cost estimates, scope definitions, and budget analyses for capital improvement programs (CIP), lead grant applications and funding strategies (STBG, CMAQ, Active Transportation Program), and manage project delivery schedules to meet funding and permitting milestones.
  • Perform parking and curbspace management studies, develop curb allocation plans and demand-responsive parking strategies, and recommend parking regulation updates to better manage curbside use for deliveries, rideshare, micromobility, and transit.
  • Evaluate transit route performance and reliability, analyze bus stop spacing and amenities, design transit signal priority (TSP) strategies, and collaborate with transit agencies to integrate service improvements into corridor designs.
  • Review site plans, development proposals, subdivision road networks, and traffic control plans for conformance with municipal design standards, provide conditions of approval, and negotiate mitigation agreements with developers and their consultants.
  • Lead corridor studies and complete intersection redesigns, including alternatives analysis, concept sketches, cross-section development, and phasing strategies to improve safety, capacity, and multimodal connectivity while minimizing right-of-way impacts.
  • Develop and maintain GIS-based spatial analyses and mapping products (ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, StoryMaps) to illustrate crash hotspots, multimodal accessibility, transit ridership distributions, and scenario comparisons for internal and public-facing deliverables.
  • Implement Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) strategies and technologies — travel time sensors, dynamic message signs, CCTV, centralized signal management — to improve incident response and real-time operations, coordinating specifications with ITS vendors and operations staff.
  • Establish and track performance measures and KPIs (travel time reliability, throughput, person-delay, safety indicators, mode share) to monitor project outcomes, prepare periodic performance reports, and recommend adaptive management strategies.
  • Ensure compliance with federal and state transportation guidelines (AASHTO, MUTCD, FHWA policies), environmental permitting requirements, stormwater and drainage considerations, and utility coordination during design and construction phases.
  • Supervise and mentor junior planners and technicians, provide technical review of peer deliverables, assign tasks, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality engineering analyses and community engagement activities.
  • Develop RFPs, scope of work documents, and evaluate proposals for consultant selection; administer consultant contracts, review deliverables, and manage consultant performance and invoicing.
  • Conduct corridor-level freight and goods movement analyses, assess truck turning templates and design accommodations for urban freight, loading zones, and last-mile logistics within constrained urban environments.
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary coordination with land use planners, public works, economic development, parks, and emergency services to ensure transportation projects align with broader municipal goals and emergency response requirements.
  • Lead post-implementation studies and before/after evaluations (signal retiming, curb changes, bikeway installations) to measure benefits, validate modeling assumptions, and refine future project approaches.
  • Provide expert testimony and technical support at planning commission meetings, city council hearings, and adjudicative forums; prepare exhibits and evidence to support adopted transportation decisions and code changes.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Traffic modeling and microsimulation: VISSIM, Synchro/SimTraffic, Aimsun, CUBE/VISUM experience for intersection, corridor, and network modeling.
  • Travel demand and regional modeling: TransCAD, EMME, and/or regional model experience for forecasting and scenario analysis.
  • Signal timing and operations: Synchro/TRANSYT, timing plan development, controller file preparation, and experience with adaptive signal systems.
  • GIS and spatial analysis: ArcGIS Desktop/Pro, ArcGIS Online, StoryMaps for mapping, spatial queries, and corridor analysis.
  • Data analytics and scripting: Python, R, SQL for cleaning, merging, and analyzing large traffic, transit, and crash datasets.
  • CAD and design tools: AutoCAD, Civil 3D or MicroStation for plan production and review of roadway geometry and signing/marking plans.
  • Traffic safety and crash analysis: HSIS familiarity, corridor crash reduction factor application, and development of countermeasure recommendations.
  • ITS and emerging tech: TSP, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi travel time systems, traffic signal controllers, CCTV and sensor integration.
  • Advanced spreadsheet and reporting: Excel (pivot tables, advanced formulas), PowerPoint and technical writing for clear deliverables and presentations.
  • Environmental and regulatory knowledge: NEPA/CEQA processes, MUTCD, AASHTO Green Book, and local design standards.
  • Project management tools: MS Project, Primavera or equivalent for schedule development, resource allocation, and budget monitoring.
  • Field data collection tools: Tube counters, video collection systems, mobile apps, and automated count equipment calibration and QA/QC procedures.

Soft Skills

  • Clear and persuasive written communication for technical memos, grant narratives, and public-facing materials.
  • Strong oral presentation and facilitation skills for stakeholder meetings, public workshops, and elected body briefings.
  • Analytical problem solving with the ability to synthesize quantitative model outputs into actionable recommendations.
  • Stakeholder and interagency coordination: diplomacy, negotiation, and consensus building with diverse public and private partners.
  • Project organization and time management to deliver multiple concurrent projects on schedule and within budget.
  • Leadership and mentorship to guide junior staff, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Attention to detail and quality assurance mindset to ensure defensible analyses and constructible designs.
  • Adaptability to evolving policy priorities, technology advances, and schedule shifts.
  • Customer service orientation focused on equitable outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations.
  • Strategic thinking to align technical projects with broader city planning goals, climate resilience, and multimodal objectives.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Transportation Engineering, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering (transportation focus), or Urban Planning with transportation specialization.
  • Professional certifications such as P.E. (Civil/Traffic), AICP, PTOE are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Transportation Engineering
  • Urban and Regional Planning
  • Civil Engineering
  • GIS / Geospatial Science
  • Data Science / Applied Statistics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience in traffic planning, traffic engineering, or transportation analysis for municipal agencies, regional planning organizations, or consulting firms.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of project-based experience with demonstrated leadership of traffic impact studies, corridor planning, signal timing projects, and public outreach.
  • Experience working with state DOTs, city public works departments, transit agencies, and familiarity with local municipal permitting and design standards.
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