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Job description: Traffic/transportion engineer
As a transport or traffic planner, you will help manage the growth of road, rail and air transport. Common roles include highways engineer or ITS engineer (intelligent transportation systems).
Much of your work will involve looking at the impact of transport issues on the public. This could include large scale projects such as assessing the impact of a village bypass, or smaller jobs like developing road safety measures outside a school.
Your routine duties are likely to include:
- Simulating transport problems using computer models, and working out solutions.
- Analysing and interpreting data gathered from transport studies.
- Forecasting the impact of new developments, for example a shopping centre.
- Looking at schemes to manage traffic, such as congestion charging and parking controls.
- Studying accident 'black spots' to design road safety improvements.
- Writing reports for funding bids and planning authorities.
- Acting as an expert witness during public enquiries.
A key part of your job will be balancing the social, economic and environmental needs of the whole community. You'll also try to influence attitudes towards alternative methods of transport, for example by encouraging people to move away from using private cars.
Hours and Environment
You'll usually work up to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You may also work in the evenings or at weekends, for example if attending public meetings.
Most of your work will be office based, although you'll spend some time visiting sites and attending planning meetings.
Skills and Interests
To be an effective transport planner you'll need:
- The ability to think around a problem
- Good project management skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Confidence in dealing with people
- Report writing and presentation skills
- Good negotiating skills
- A knowledge of computer modelling software
- An understanding of transport issues
- A commitment to continuous professional development.
Entry
You'll need a degree in a relevant subject such as transport planning, civil engineering, geography, maths or environmental science. Business studies or social sciences could also be useful. Visit the Universitites and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website for details.
You could start as a transport planning assistant or technician if you have a BTEC HNC/HND in similar subject areas or proven work experience in this field. A range of opportunities in transport planning is being promoted by the Transport Planning Society, with the aim of attracting new people into this career. See the Transportation Opportunities website for details.
Training
You could take short courses with the Transport Planning Society (TPS) to keep you up to date with the latest industry developments, legislation and best practice.
You may also take a range of postgraduate courses, covering areas such as transport modelling, environmental impact, graphical information systems (GIS), transport safety and overseas transport systems. You could study for these qualifications either full-time, or part-time while working in a transport planning office. See the TPS website for a list of training providers.
You could study for a Masters degree in Transport through the Universities' Transport Partnership (UTP) scheme as well. They also offer shorter courses in Continuing Professional Development (CPD). See the UTP website for more details.
In addition, the TPS, along with GoSkills and several related transport and engineering bodies, have developed the TPS Professional Development Package.This includes the new IHT/TPS Transport Planning Professional (TPP) qualification, which offers you a route to incorporated or chartered status.
Opportunities
Around 10,000 transport planners are employed in the UK, according to GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council for transport. They also predict that up to 900 extra transport planners will be needed each year.
It means your prospects are good, with the growing demand being driven by the introduction of Local Transport Plans aiming to coordinate local transport use.
The Transport Planning Society are also promoting the career to try and attract new people into this field.
You will find most opportunities in central and local government, strategic development bodies, transport and logistics companies, airports and specialist consultancies.
With experience, you could become a senior transport planner, traffic engineer or move into town planning. Further options include policy development and consultancy work.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
- Newly qualified graduate transport planners can earn around £20,000 a year.
- Postgraduate entrants can expect up to £23,000.
- Experienced planners can earn between £25,000 and £50,000 a year.
- Top consultants may earn more depending on the contract.
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