A traffic signal or intelligent transportation system (ITS) technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and/or repair of ITS and traffic signal systems including traffic signal cabinets, loop detection systems, and traffic signal electronics. A traffic signal or ITS technician might also assist with the development of traffic studies and design plans such as for ITS infrastructure, traffic signals, signing, pavement marking, construction sequencing, and traffic control plans. The technician may troubleshoot ITS and traffic signal equipment and make recommendations to repair or resolve any issues in a given system. These technicians may also be responsible for the maintenance of spare equipment and parts, including inventory management and documentation. Relevant technology includes CCTV systems, dynamic message signs, travel time readers, vehicle detection systems, and fiber optics and wireless systems. A traffic signal or ITS technician should ensure that traffic signal installation and related activities are conducted in compliance with applicable traffic control device regulations, standards, and specifications.
Technical Communication and Report Development Skills
TMC Manager
A traffic incident manager will detect, monitor, and respond to various traffic management data sources and incidents to maintain safety and efficiency on local roadway systems. Real-time sources of traffic data may include CCTV cameras, other video detection sources, traffic sensors (weather, speed, and volume), traffic flow systems, alarms, police scanners, public phone calls, etc. A traffic incident manager may be asked to analyze or assess traffic events like construction zones, special events, congestion, traffic incidents, evacuations, or traffic equipment malfunctions. A traffic incident manager may also be asked to develop or implement response scenario plans for such incidents, including traffic control plans that indicate sign placement and traffic management plans at the scene. A traffic incident manager may help clear or manage major traffic incidents by providing information like the approximate duration of the traffic disruption, number of injuries or fatalities, number of lanes blocked, as well as to confirm or coordinate the arrival of emergency first response teams. Through coordination with local response teams and use of dynamic message signs and other ITS devices, the traffic incident manager will help mitigate traffic congestion by providing clear and concise safety information concerning local traffic incidents in roadway systems.
Analyst/Logistician (Freight)
The data science analyst or logistician is responsible for extracting, organizing, integrating, analyzing, and communicating information obtained from a variety of transportation or supply chain data sources. The analyst/logistician will analyze data using SQL, SAP, and other standard statistical software and tools to inform business decisions and drive efficient performance across supply chain and logistics operations. The work of the analyst/logistician might also support inventory and asset management, cost savings, internal strategic analysis, mode selection/freight consolidation efforts, product tracking, customer service initiatives, and metric reporting to promote operations performance. The analyst/logistician that also serves as a project or program manager oversees all aspects of a project, supervising progress over the entire project life cycle.
Civil Engineer (Transit)
A civil transit engineer will develop, analyze, inspect, and/or design transit infrastructure, transit stations, buildings, underground structures, or elevated structures or bridges. A civil transit engineer will often perform field surveys, develop transit plans, secure permitting for transit infrastructure, prepare engineering design reports, prepare constructions plans, respond to structural emergencies, and/or prepare contract documents for rail or transit engineering projects. A civil transit engineer will often participate in on-site reviews of project locations to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety standards. A civil transit engineer may also perform transit/traffic analysis, transportation operations, ITS and safety concepts, and pedestrian improvement plans. A civil transit engineer may utilize AutoCAD or Civil 3D software in plans for transit facility designs, diagrams, or models, and to execute engineering tasks. A civil transit engineer will coordinate with local officials to ensure compliance of design in accordance with transit agency standards and specifications. A civil transit engineer with project management duties will also develop and manage a transit project’s design scope, proposal, schedule, and resource estimates, as well as coordinate efforts of the design team or supervises related support staff.
Logistics Analyst
Industrial engineers and operations research or modeling analysts working in transportation operations use advanced mathematical and analytical methods to analyze and solve complex problems, assess risk, and provide a data-driven approach to decision-making. They might be involved in numerous types of projects including process improvement plans, warehouse and labor management, capital projects, inventory and equipment planning, cost saving initiatives, or logistics process design. Utilizing industrial engineering skills inherent in process flow analysis, operational project planning, efficiency or process improvement studies, statistical and mapping analysis, and time and motion studies, the industrial engineer or operations analyst will be involved in planning and designing new transportation operations, supporting existing operations, and developing comprehensive supply chain solutions.
Operations Planner
An operations planner is involved in managing complex projects and systems and conducting many types of transportation planning analyses or studies including corridor planning, traffic operations planning, multi-modal or transit-oriented projects, or freight operations planning. An operations planner may perform transportation development planning, system and route performance analyses, operational assessments, transportation project feasibility studies, and market research for transportation projects. An operations planner might also perform field review, field data collection, site and infrastructure assessments, project finance and governance, grant initiatives, public or stakeholder outreach, and other on-site project support. An operations planner may complete assessments using analytical tools such as GIS to evaluate data, identify trends, and develop any project-related documentation.