Transportation Specialist

Transportation Specialist

Positions in this job family are responsible for planning, supervising, and performing technical and professional level transportation work. Responsibilities may be assigned in any area of transportation work, including research, planning and design, survey, environmental studies, bid lettings, construction, maintenance, or project management. Responsibilities may include all phases of highway and bridge construction, field management of utilities or property appraisal and acquisition, relocation assistance, traffic operations, materials testing and sampling, or materials laboratory management.

Typical functions include:

• Performs sampling and testing of materials for use in highway construction and maintenance operation; performs plant inspections and prepares materials certifications.
• Surveys grade and alignment of highways using survey equipment.
• Collects statistics and documentation about the state highway system.
• Conducts traffic studies to aid in the determination of transportation system improvements.
• Performs or supervises the various functions required for the bid letting of construction projects, such as developing bid proposals from design plans, incorporating revisions to proposals, and disseminating information to contractors and industry throughout the letting progress.
• Inspects, reviews, or provides oversight for contractors, consultants or utility relocations associated with construction projects to ensure compliance with plans and contracts for highway construction activities; prepares progressive and final estimates for construction contractors.
• Performs planning and review functions for transportation systems such as rail, public transportation, waterways, and highways; determines existing service levels and future needs for transportation modes; considers social, economic, and environmental effects of proposed projects.
• Performs real estate duties in one or more of the following areas; property appraisal, acquisition of real property, or relocation assistance; prepares plans and reports for right-of-way projects.
• Performs audits on the effectiveness of research programs, the adequacy of right-of-way plans, the support of planning decisions by appropriate data, the reliance of materials testing, the reliability of surveys, and the accuracy of construction project documentation.
• Supervises employees in any area of transportation work.

Incumbents perform complex professional transportation work at the specialist level involving the design, research, planning, construction, maintenance, or review of various types of transportation systems/projects. Responsibilities may be assigned in any area of transportation work. Performs duties as a lead worker and provides direction to specialists. May provide guidance to consultants and coordinate and monitor work performed by contractors or vendors.

Education and experience requirements vary by level:

• Level I:
  None
• Level II:
  One year of experience in transportation related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting two college courses in mathematics, natural science, engineering or a closely related field for the year of the required experience.
• Level III:
  Three years of experience in transportation related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting 30 semester hours for each year of the required experience, including two college courses in mathematics, natural science, engineering or a closely related field.
• Level IV:
  Four years of experience in transportation related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting 30 semester hours for each year of the required experience, including two college courses in mathematics, natural science, engineering or a closely related field.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required include knowledge of basic geometry and algebra; of basic laboratory equipment; of construction materials; of the English language in order to follow written and oral instructions; of construction methods; of survey procedures; of plans and specifications; of the basic principles of transportation planning or research; of technical engineering and/or environmental operations; of real estate practices and property acquisition;

of transportation theory, laws and practices; and of the specialized area to which the incumbent will be assigned. Ability is required to measure distance; to collect data; to operate computer equipment; to operate transportation-related equipment; to check and adjust survey equipment for accuracy; to read and interpret plans and specifications; to measure and calculate areas and volumes of work completed;

to perform tests on materials using basic laboratory testing equipment in accordance with prescribed procedures; to exercise judgment in analyzing situations and determining sound courses of action; to organize and conduct activities; to provide training and guidance; to make independent decision; to establish…