Infrastructure Planning Co-Op

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…