Transportation Engineers

What Does a Transportation Engineers Do?

Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.
• 2Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
• 3Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
• 4Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
• 5Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
• 6Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
• 7Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
• 8Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.

Required Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Mathematics
• Active Listening
• McTrans HCS+
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Autodesk Land Desktop
• Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering Suite
• Bentley InRoads Suite
• Bentley MicroStation
• Citilabs Cube
• Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
• Cubic Synchro Studio