Infrastructure Planning Co-Op

Massachusetts-Bay-Transportation-Authority; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The MBTA’s Infrastructure Planning team invites undergraduates to join as a co-op for six months, working on planning, data analytics, and engineering support in Boston. You will collaborate with project managers, clean and analyze data, and develop static dashboards and maps as well as interactive visuals.

Preferred fields include planning, data analytics, engineering, construction management, architecture, environmental science, or related studies.

Qualifications

• Enrolled, for entire duration of employment, in an undergraduate program in Planning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Environmental Science or related field.
• Ability to work in-person at least three days per week in downtown Boston; preference for five days per week.
• Above average ability to think critically about engineering and design and how decisions affect riders and the agency.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support planning projects by cleaning and analyzing data, developing static data visualizations and maps, and developing interactive dashboards.
• Perform research on transit agency operational and design practices to inform MBTA project approaches and standards.
• Develop presentations, reports, and memos.
• Assist with project coordination, including organizing meetings and communicating with consultants and other departments on project needs and deliverables.
• Attend site visits with consultants and MBTA staff to facilities in the Greater Boston area, following health and safety protocols.
• Attend virtual and in-person meetings and support project managers with design review.

Skills

Data analytics

Planning

Engineering support

Communication

Education

Undergraduate student

Tools

Excel

Tableau

ArcGIS

AutoCAD

Job description

The MBTA’s Infrastructure Planning team focuses on early design projects, master planning efforts, strategic capital initiatives, and process improvement projects for the Engineering and Capital Division at the MBTA. Some examples of recent projects are:

• Bus Electrification – Development of plans and programs to support the MBTA’s battery-electric bus (BEB) goals, including supporting the operational rollout of BEBs, the upgrade and construction of bus garages to support BEBs, and short-term charging solutions.
• Nubian Square Redesign – Redesign of busways at Nubian Square to improve safety, accessibility, flow, and travel times as well as accommodating future changes to the bus network.
• Right of Way Planning Support - Development of a suite of tools that can be used to support the rail diversion planning process, including the development of work zones, an interactive mapping tool, and resource site for project managers.
• MBTA Signal Master Plan – Communicating need and prioritizing capital investments for the rail signal asset class.

In past semesters, interns / co-ops have developed dashboards to help understand station access travel modes, processed ridership data for project planning, supported site planning with architectural diagrams, updated graphics to show possible work zones for construction, researched maintenance facility standards in transit agencies across the US, and done field visits to understand conditions at facilities.

The Infrastructure Planning team seeks a co-op whose studies focus on planning, data analytics, engineering, construction management, architecture, environmental science, or any related field. The co-op will work directly with the Project Managers on the Infrastructure Planning team. We are looking to hire two interns, who will work onsite (40 hours per week) for at least six months (January – June).

This position is for undergraduate students. Graduate students will not be considered.

Responsibilities may vary depending on existing projects and intern goals, but may include:

• Support planning projects by cleaning and analyzing data, developing static data visualizations and maps, and developing interactive dashboards.
• Perform research on transit agency operational and design practices to inform MBTA project approaches and standards.
• Develop presentations, reports, and memos.
• Assist with project coordination, including organizing meetings and communicating with consultants and other departments on project needs and deliverables.
• Attend occasional site visits, with consultants and MBTA staff to facilities in the Greater Boston area, following all health & safety protocols.
• Support project managers with design review.
• Attend virtual & phone meetings.
• Ability to work in person three days per week at 10 Park Plaza in Boston, but preference for more as the program is likely to result in better experience given the nature of the work and the largely in-person work environment.
• Participate in team / staff meetings, organization events, fieldwork, project teams, or other duties as needed.
• Additional responsibilities may include focusing on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendums or hiring manager for department or location specific functions.
• Provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experience.

• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

* The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Enrolled, for entire duration of employment, in the undergraduate / Bachelor’s degree program of an accredited college / university in Planning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Environmental Science, Business, or a related field.
• Ability to work in-person at least three (3) days per week in downtown Boston; preference given to applicants who can work in-person five (5) days per week due to the nature of the work.
• Above average ability to think critically about engineering and design, understanding how engineering decisions could affect riders and the agency.
• Above average ability to write technical information in a clear and accessible way.
• Above average ability to create presentations that communicate information clearly.
• Above average skillsets in the following (not all are required):
  • Data analytics / visualization tools, such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, ArcGIS, etc.
  • Graphic design.
  • Engineering experience in transportation or civil engineering.
  • Design software, such as AutoCAD.
• Above average proficiency with standard office software (e.g. Microsoft office) or relevant technical tools.
• Above average ability to communicate effectively in English, both in written and oral forms.
• Highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.
• Passion for public transportation, urban planning, engineering, public policy, or public service.
• Above average ability to work effectively in diverse, collaborative, fast-paced environments as well as independently.
• Ability to independently commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Authorized to work in the United States (international students in CPT, STEM, or OPT programs through a university are eligible to apply). The MBTA does not provide visa sponsorship, such as H1-B status.

* The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required.