Transportation Planner (TPO)

Alachua County Sheriff's Office; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (GACTPO) is seeking an entry-level transportation planner to support advisory committees and senior staff through research and analysis for multimodal planning initiatives.

You will contribute to LRTP, TIP, UPWP, and related plans, coordinating with local governments, transit providers, and the public while preparing maps, presentations, and reports.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of transportation planning principles and methods.
• Knowledge of federal and state metropolitan planning requirements.
• Knowledge of multimodal transportation systems (roads, bikes, pedestrians, transit).
• Knowledge of community engagement and public involvement strategies.
• Knowledge of data sources for transportation planning (counts, census, transit).
• Skill in coordinating meetings, agendas, and project tasks.
• Skill in using GIS, Excel, and data dashboards for analysis.
• Skill in creating maps and presentations with GIS and graphics tools.
• Ability to collect, evaluate, and interpret transportation data and performance measures.
• Ability to present maps and data clearly using GIS.

Responsibilities

• Provides board and staff support, including preparing meeting agenda packets and minutes.
• Assists with development and implementation of federally and state-mandated documents (LRTP, TIP, UPWP).
• Participates in collection and analysis of transportation performance data.
• Serves as liaison to local jurisdictions and agencies.
• Supports public engagement efforts, including public meetings.
• Prepares maps, presentations, visualization tools, and reports.
• Assists in public information meetings and hearings.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Skills

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Time management

Self-direction

Problem solving

Knowledge of transportation planning

Knowledge of federal & state MPO regs

Multimodal systems knowledge

Community engagement techniques

Data sources for transportation

Coordinating meetings

GIS & Excel planning software

PowerPoint & graphics tools

GIS map creation

Public liaison skills

Oral & written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in urban/regional planning or transportation planning

Tools

GIS

Excel

Data dashboards

PowerPoint

Adobe tools

Job description

Minimum Qualifications

Gainesville & Alachua County TPO seeks a responsible, professional entry-level transportation planner. The employee will support TPO Advisory Committees and senior staff and assist in development and implementation of the TPO’s major programs, plans and activities through innovative research and analysis techniques. In addition to being detail-oriented, the successful candidate should have a willingness to learn, explore new ideas, and be flexible and comfortable working with the public.

Bachelor’s degree in urban/regional planning, transportation planning, or a closely related field, and one year of professional planning experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the minimum requirements listed.

Successful completion of all applicable background checks is required.

Position Summary

This is responsible, professional planning work supporting transportation planning activities, agency coordination, performance monitoring, and providing technical assistance to the TPO Executive Director and senior staff in the assessment and development of multimodal transportation plans, studies, and projects.

The employee in this position serves as the recording clerk for the Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (GACTPO) Advisory Committees and supports TPO senior staff through the use of innovative research and analysis techniques to promote the TPO's major programs, plans, and projects, such as the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and federally mandated plans and activities. This position's work includes, but is not limited to, coordinating auto, freight, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and trail system planning with partner agencies and federal and state agencies. The employee in this position works closely with local governments, transportation providers, public and private advocacy groups, neighborhoods, and local constituents.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Competencies

• Effective communication
• Attention to detail
• Relationship building
• Time management
• Self-direction
• Problem solving

Examples of Duties

Provides board and staff support, including preparing meeting agenda packets and minutes. This includes attending meetings of the Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (GACTPO) Board, Advisory Committees, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, and the Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) Board. May be asked to prepare and give presentations and respond to the direction of the Board and Committees.

Assists with the development and implementation of federally and state-mandated documents, including the List of Priority Projects (LOPP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Public Participation Plan (PPP), Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and other transportation planning products.

Participates in the collection, analysis, and monitoring of transportation system performance data and research and tabulate socio-economic and demographic data by traffic analysis zones (TAZ) from local and US Census sources to develop and report on performance measures and targets and works with senior staff to report system performance.

Serves as a liaison to local jurisdictions and works with the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, and Gainesville RTS staff to support transportation and transit objectives.

Supports public engagement efforts, including attending public meetings and meetings with transportation partners.

Provides general planning support and functions, including preparing maps, presentations, visualization tools, and other required documents and reviewing and analyzing projects and reports.

Assists in the preparation and participation of public information meetings and hearings.

Performs other duties as needed.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed allocated to this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA's)

Knowledge of transportation planning principles, practices, and methods.

Knowledge of federal and state metropolitan planning requirements and regulations.

Knowledge of multimodal transportation systems, including roadways, bicycles, pedestrians, and transit networks.

Knowledge of community engagement techniques and public involvement strategies.

Knowledge of data sources related to transportation planning (traffic counts, transit data, safety data, census data, etc.).

Skill in coordinating meetings, presentations, agendas, and project tasks.

Skill in using planning and analytical software (e.g., GIS, Excel, data dashboards).

Skill in using presentation tools and graphic preparation software (PowerPoint, Adobe tools, etc.).

Ability to collect, evaluate, and interpret transportation data and performance measures.

Ability to create, interpret, and present maps using GIS or comparable tools.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state, regional, and local agencies, community leaders, and the general public.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including public speaking, delivering effective presentations, and preparing written reports and memoranda.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, frequently required to talk or hear and occasionally required to be mobile.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions and the risk of electrical shock. The employee may perform field work in inclement weather.

This work is primarily performed in an office setting. Light travel is required throughout Alachua County and beyond.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.

BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Employee Life Insurance
• Florida Retirement System
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement. A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows:
• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday following Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve (IAFF*)
• Christmas Day
• Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)
• 2 Floating Holidays (All non- IAFF employees)
• IAFF – International Association of Firefighters Pay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.