Assistant Transportation Planner

Summary

AC Transit is currently seeking candidates for the position of Assistant Transportation Planner in the Planning & Engineering Department. Under direct supervision, this position, provides assistance to Service Planning staff in the development and implementation of service changes by participating in planning efforts and coordinating bus stop adjustments with local jurisdictions and internal stakeholders.  Typical activities include the identification of issues, collection, analysis, and reporting of data; the preparation and presentation of oral and written reports, and general responsibility for planning bus stop changes, including shepherding those changes through the approval and implementation process. Initially, under close supervision, incumbents receive training and learn policies and procedures, specific methods, and regulations relevant to transportation planning. This is the entry, learning level within the classification series. Incumbents in this classification learn the intricacies of transportation planning including applicable laws, rules, regulations.  There are four (4) levels within the Transportation Planner series, which are distinguished from one another by the technical complexity of the assigned duties and the level of discretion and independent judgment exercised.

Positions at this level provide administrative, coordinative support and assist the higher-level transportation planners.  As experience is gained, assignments become more varied, complex, and review of the work become less frequent. This classification performs a significant portion of the work assigned to the Transportation Planner (experienced level), but without the level of independence or full responsibility expected of the higher-level classification.

This is an excellent opportunity to work for the largest bus agency in California, make a difference in our local community, and promote AC Transit as a great employer of the East Bay. In addition to working with some of the best in the business, AC Transit also has an excellent benefits package that includes pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, and 457 savings plan.

Representative Functions

• Provides assistance as directed for the preparation of a variety of routine to complex transportation planning studies and written reports that may include documentation of service performance, service analyses, recommendations for service enhancements, and discussion of pertinent issues.
• Provides assistance as directed to the preparation of transportation and service delivery studies including route analysis, boarding, and alighting studies, and the capital planning process.
• Monitors current service levels; identifies potential areas for study, and may prepare cost analysis.
• Supports Service Planning aspects of bus stop program including identifying and vetting stop locations for route or service change proposals, shepherding stop and layover proposals through jurisdictional permitting processes, and working with internal stakeholders to translate stop/layover proposals into in-service reality.
• Analyzes technical, demographic, economic, and financial data used for assessing route and schedule changes, as well as related service enhancements; and provides expertise to planning staff in the development of recommendations for change.
• Collects data, develops and implements surveys,  and may participate in or supervise field studies.
• Prepares statistical charts, maps, and other documents to accompany studies, reports, and presentations.
• Responds orally and in writing to requests from the public, staff, governmental agencies, advisory committees, and community groups, for information regarding existing services, suggested service adjustments, and long-range planning issues.
• Provides assistance as directed to the preparation of oral presentations on transportation and other service-related issues to the Board of Directors, staff, service users, governmental agencies, advisory committees, and community groups.
• May meet with local authorities, consultants, and transit groups to exchange transit information, under supervision, and as part of a District planning team.
• May work on service delivery projects with consultants, and contractors. 
• Attends and participates in a variety of professional meetings and regulatory training; stays abreast of new trends, innovations, laws, and regulations as they relate to the field of transportation planning.
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in mathematics, statistics, computer applications, geography, transportation, urban planning, business, public administration, or a closely related field.

Experience: Completion of an internship in transportation planning, or six (6) months experience in a transportation planning environment, or at least one (1) year of experience at a level equivalent to the District’s classification of Senior Transit Scheduler.

Additional Information

Physical Requirements: Must maintain the physical condition necessary to perform tasks in an office setting operating a computer, keyboard, and other peripheral equipment; safely drive a District automobile; and walk, stand, and climb short distances in construction settings in order to inspect the progress of assigned projects.
 

THIS POSITION IS A UNION POSITION, REPRESENTED BY AFSCME

The Selection Process: The Human Resources department must receive a completed online application by the filling date. If this recruitment is "Continuous," it may be closed at any time without notice. Applications will be screened for job related qualifications, and those candidates who best meeting the qualifications listed on this Job Announcement will be invited to participate in an examination process that may include written, oral and/or performance segments. Current District employees must have satisfactory attendance and performance records. Finalists will be placed on an Eligibility List. When filling vacancies, the Human Resources Department will refer the top candidates to the hiring department for final screening and recommendation. 

Benefits: The transit professionals who call AC Transit home represent the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area. For more than 60 years, we have been an equal opportunity employer honoring religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, gender expression, genetic information, disabilities, age, and veteran status. We are not only an inclusive employer but also offer a comprehensive benefits package rooted in choice, flexibility, and affordability. Most Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. Employees and eligible dependents have access to the following benefits*: 

• Medical - Choice of two Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): Kaiser Permanente and Health Net. $10.00 office visit co-pays; $5.00 - $35.00 prescription co-pays. 
• Dental – MetLife Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) $50 annual deductible per person/$150 per family; $3,000 per person annual maximum; preventative care covered at 100%; basic and major care covered at 90%; $4,000 lifetime maximum orthodontia covered at 50%. 
• Vision - Vision Service Plan - $10.00 copay; eligible for an exam, lenses, frames or contact lenses every 12 months – based on the last date of service. $200 frame allowance or $120 allowance for contact lenses. 
• Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance 
• Employee-paid Voluntary Term Life Insurance 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health Care, Dependent Care, Parking, Transit 
• AC Transit contributes up to $50.00/month towards an employee’s FSA Transit costs 
• Free AC Transit Bus Pass 
• Federal Credit Union 
• Vacation and Sick Leave or Personal Time Off 
• Ten (10) paid holidays; 2 paid floating holidays; 1 paid birthday holiday 
• Tuition Reimbursement – up to $2500 per fiscal year on approved courses 
• Wellness Program

*AC Transit benefits are negotiated and subject to change based on collective bargaining agreements. 

Pension: All AC Transit employees participate in a lifetime defined benefit pension. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2020, may be in the District's Tier II pension plan covered by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). As such, he/she may be required to contribute a small portion of annual income towards the cost of his/hers District pension. 

ADA Compliant and Drug Free Workplace: The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you have a need for an accommodation, please call Human Resources at (510) 891-4783. 

The Alameda Contra Costa Transit District has established the goal of a 100 percent drug and alcohol-free workplace. Applicants will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment and those in safety sensitive positions will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing through their period of employment, including random drug and alcohol testing. 

In accordance with federal requirements, all job applicants selected for appointments in a safety sensitive position are subject to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing. A final job applicant will be tested for five prohibited drugs: Cocaine, PCP, Amphetamines, Marijuana and Opiates. During employment, employees holding safety sensitive positions are subject to random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. Additionally, in the event of an absence of more than 90 days from a safety sensitive position, pre-employment drug testing will be performed. 

Equal Opportunity Employer