MS2

Transoft Solutions

PTV America

Parsons Brinckerhoff

ITE on Facebook ITE on Twitter ITE on LinkedIn


The Transportation Profession

THE TRANSPORTATION PROFESSION IS:

  • Engineers
  • Planners
  • Researchers
  • Designers
  • Builders
  • Teachers
  • Environmentalists
Do you want to:
  • solve real world problems -- big problems?
  • work with a wide variety of professionals -- government leaders, land developers, architects, lawyers and others?
  • be involved in your community?
  • apply computers and advanced technology to reduce congestion and increase safety?
  • focus on people, as well as things?

Then you should consider becoming a transportation professional. It's a vital growing profession with excellent career growth potential and exciting opportunities. As a transportation professional, you'll plan, design, operate and manage transportation facilities working as a consultant, researcher, or in government.

THE TRANSPORTATION PROFESSION

Transportation professionals are responsible for planning, designing, and operating streets and highways, transit systems, airports, railroads, ports, and harbors to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods.

As a transportation professional you can work on a wide variety of projects, such as:

  • investigating and minimizing the effects of new developments and proposed highway projects on air and noise pollution, wetlands, and other aspects of the environment, as well as socio-economic impacts
  • implementing ways to relieve traffic congestion, such as bus/carpool lanes on roadways and encouraging the use of public transportation
  • planning, designing and operating parking facilities for airports, shopping centers, recreational, industrial, office and residential developments
  • preparing traffic impact studies for new developments and determining transportation improvements to mitigate the additional traffic
  • planning, designing, and operating airports, railroads, ports, and harbors
  • planning and designing pedestrian circulation systems at universities, malls, and other busy pedestrian areas to ensure safety
  • designing and controlling a computerized traffic signal system to allow for efficient movement of traffic
  • inventing ways to increase the capacity and safety of roadways through the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems

TRANSPORTATION CAREERS

Transportation professionals work in planning, design and construction, operations, and research, among many other fields.

Planning

As a transportation planner you will work with other transportation professionals, as well as people in technical vocations, neighborhood groups and public officials. Many projects require the preparation of environmental documents since the project's success may depend on minimizing the effects on air, water, noise and wildlife. Noise barriers, landscaping or special design considerations may be required. It is the planners responsibility to meet each challenge and to present a solution that both does the job and addresses the concerns of the public. You may be called upon to justify your plan to neighborhood groups, lawyers, business leaders, news media and elected officials.

Design and Construction

As a transportation designer, you may be challenged to build a bridge that is compatible with the surrounding landscaping, or to design a ramp for a busy existing interchange. The design phase relies greatly on computer technology, as do most transportation fields. Computers aid in actually drawing transportation facilities. With the use of the computer, the engineer can experiment with many different alternatives to determine the most efficient design with the least adverse impact and lowest cost.

If you like to work outdoors, you might prefer the construction phase. From a spectacular bridge project to a simple lane widening, the construction engineer is responsible for the final product . . . that it is built as designed and that the correct materials are used. The construction field is constantly changing with new methods being introduced on practically every project.

Operations

Transportation operations is another important field of the transportation profession. Traffic engineers are responsible for design, implementation and maintenance of traffic controls, signs and pavement markings. Traffic control is essential for safe travel on ordinary roads and construction work zones, detours, and for special events. Traffic engineers use computers to monitor the flow of traffic onto existing freeways, to control parking decks, analyze accident locations, determine roadway capacities, improve traffic flow at intersections, and coordinate the operation of traffic signals throughout a city. Traffic engineers must work with developers, planners and designers to meet the challenge of providing a safe and efficient transportation system. The field of operations also includes working with public transportation. Public transportation professionals are challenged to determine the routes and service frequency to meet the demand at the least cost.

Research

In the field of research you'll tackle the unknown. Maybe you'll develop a new computer program for an on-board automobile navigational system or discover new ways to design automated "smart" highways. You'll work on the latest technology and with top thinkers in the profession. You might be part of a team assigned to a large federal project or manage your own smaller study for a private concern - working today on the transportation systems of tomorrow.

EDUCATION

A good background in science and mathematics, the ability to communicate effectively through speaking and writing and a basic understanding of government are all beneficial first steps in becoming a transportation professional.

Transportation professionals should prepare for their careers through college education. Many transportation professionals are enrolled in engineering programs, primarily civil, electrical, mechanical or chemical engineering. However, due to the diverse nature of the transportation profession, many transportation professionals have a background in planning, science, environmental planning, computers, and a number of other fields. Transportation courses may include transportation planning, traffic engineering, railroad engineering, highway design, airport design and related courses such as computer science, statistics, urban planning, geography, economics, business management and public administration.

Transportation engineering skills may also be obtained through employment and through numerous training conferences and short courses on various transportation engineering aspects offered by employers, universities and professional engineering societies.

Not all transportation careers require a four year college degree. There is a need for draftspersons, surveyors, computer programmers, sign makers and installers, traffic signal technicians and construction inspectors.

PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS

Most transportation engineers are employed by local, state or federal agencies, or by private consulting firms. Many are engaged in teaching and research at colleges and universities. Job opportunities are often publicized through engineering-oriented publications such as ITE Journal, a magazine published monthly by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. In addition, most universities have job-placement programs to help their graduating students find employment.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION

Institute of Transportation Engineers
1099 14th Street, NW, Suite 300 West | Washington, DC 20005-3438 USA
Telephone: +1 202-289-0222 | Fax: +1 202-289-7722
ite_staff@ite.org

© 2010 Institute of Transportation Engineers