Transportation Planner III

Since 1977, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has served the Fairfax County community by enhancing mobility, safety, and the quality of life of residents, businesses, and visitors through planning, coordinating, funding, implementing, and sustaining a multimodal transportation system. FCDOT is seeking an innovative, strategic, and highly qualified Transportation Planner to support Fairfax Connector and Fastran bus service. The position utilizes advanced transit applications and techniques to plan, analyze, and improve bus service. Also performs advanced transportation planning and analysis to assist in multimodal transportation studies and incorporate recommendations into the five-to-ten-year Transit Strategic Plan. In the rapidly evolving public transportation sector, this position offers a unique opportunity to design, plan, and provide world-class transit services in the national capital region.

Responsibilities include:

• Utilizing advanced transit scheduling techniques and specialized computer applications and programs to plan and analyze Fairfax Connector and Fastran bus service
• Developing and applying criteria for analyzing service utilization and conducting cost analysis, and making recommendations to improve transit services
• Preparing schematic operating schedules, and coordinating all route and scheduling issues with the County's private transit operations service provider
• Developing forecasts, coordinating medium and long-term transit planning projects, and incorporating same into system-wide studies or plans, such as the Ten-Year Transit Strategic Plan
• Overseeing transit scheduling software and/or other administrative and maintenance functions, coordinating with Network Analyst, Fastran, and DIT; administering software contract and overseeing related procurements.
• Developing service planning materials for and coordinating public outreach efforts related to transit planning and service changes; preparing presentations for advisory groups, technical working committees, briefings for senior leadership and/or elected officials, and other audiences, as required to meet specific audience needs
• Collaborating with internal and external partners to increase Fairfax Connector and Fastran ridership and improve service quality
• Coordinating transit service planning with federal, state, and regional rail and other transit service providers to ensure resources are effectively allocated to maximum benefit
• Developing grant applications and other documentation to obtain funding and/or request reimbursement for Fairfax Connector and Fastran services; analyzing fiscal impact of transit service plans and changes
• Supervising assigned technical staff; training County and contractor staff to use specialized transit scheduling software as a tool for bus service planning and analysis
• Attending project-related meetings and workshops, both in-person and virtual, including occasional evenings and weekends
• Performing other duties as assigned and required, including responding to inclement weather, incidents and/or other emergencies

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, urban, regional or transportation planning, or a closely related field; plus four years of professional experience in civil engineering, urban, regional or transportation planning, or a closely related field.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong analytic and technical skills, as well as experience in fixed-route/fixed-schedule transit planning and developing fixed-route schedules.
• Experience reviewing, analyzing, evaluating, or planning transit services and facilities.  
• Experience in developing, coordinating, and implementing transit plans, schedules, projects, and/or programs for a transit system comparable to Fairfax Connector.
• Experience of analyzing real-time key performance tracking data and using Intelligent Transit Services technology.
• Experience in coordinating with Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Virginia Department of Transportation of Transportation, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Federal Transit Administration, or other governmental agencies.
• Strong computer skills and experience with Trapeze or HASTUS-equivalent, Remix, MAIOR, or TBEST.
• Strong organizational, time management, and project management experience, including ability to coordinate multiple projects, prioritize, and meet established deadlines.
• Experience implementing transit service changes and analyzing fiscal impact of transit service plans and changes.
• Experience developing grant applications for transit services
• Strong written/oral communication skills and experience serving as a subject matter expert for, presenting to, and engaging with elected officials, staff, and the community.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.
• Desire to advance a collaborative and supportive culture.