Public Transit Service Planner II Or III

Public Transit Service Planner

Salary and Benefits Public Transit Service Planner II Salary: $63,400/year Individuals hired in this position have the opportunity to progress up to $95,100/year, which is the maximum salary for this position as of December 2025. Public Transit Service Planner III Salary: $75,362/year Individuals hired in this position have the opportunity to progress up to $113,044/year, which is the maximum salary for this position as of December 2025.

Planner II Position Summary

The Public Transit Service Planner under the direction of the Transit Manager is responsible for the research, design, and analysis of public transportation services. This role involves complex planning activities, performance monitoring, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders. A crucial part of the position includes transit-related grant funding processes and compliance with National Transit Database (NTD) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reporting requirements.

Essential Job Functions

Service Planning & Analysis

• Develop, evaluate, and adjust fixed-route, microtransit, paratransit, and other transit services.
• Analyze ridership data, service performance, and demographic trends to recommend improvements.
• Prepare service change proposals, reports, and presentations for leadership.
• Coordinate with operations on service planning efforts.

Grant Funding & Program Development

• Identify funding opportunities and lead the preparation of grant applications to federal, state, and local agencies (including FTA Sections 5307, 5310, 5339, etc.)
• Assist in the development of short- and long-range transit plans aligned with funding strategies.

Regulatory Reporting & Compliance

• NTD data collection, validation, and annual report submission to the FTA.
• Stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Represent the agency at regional planning committees, and interagency working groups.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with local jurisdictions, MPOs, and transit partners.

Typical Physical/Mental Demands/Working Conditions Constant exposure to stress as a result of human behavior and meeting the demands of an operating transit system with deadlines and schedules. May work indoors, sitting, with the ability to move at will, and to work in the field monitoring and reviewing transit activities. A computer keyboard is used for entering and retrieving data and preparing documents. May work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including cold, extreme heat, and rain. Note: Assignments may include early morning, late evening, weekend and holiday work shifts.

Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Transportation, Public Administration, Geography, or related field. Experience: Minimum of two (2) years professional experience in transit planning, transit operations or a closely related field. Knowledge of: Knowledge of FTA funding programs and NTD reporting. Skills: Knowledge of public transportation systems, planning methodologies, and data analytics. Familiarity with federal and state transit funding programs and regulations. Competency in transit planning software, GIS, Excel, and data visualization tools. Analytical, writing, and presentation skills. Ability to: Manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.

Planner III Position Summary

The Senior Public Transit Service Planner is a key member of the transit planning team responsible for leading the design, analysis, and implementation of public transportation services. This role involves complex planning activities, performance monitoring, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders. A crucial part of the position includes overseeing transit-related grant funding processes and ensuring compliance with National Transit Database (NTD) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reporting requirements.

Essential Job Functions

Service Planning & Analysis

• Lead the development, evaluation, and adjustment of fixed-route, microtransit, paratransit, and other transit services.
• Analyze ridership data, service performance, and demographic trends to recommend improvements.
• Prepare detailed service change proposals, reports, and presentations for leadership and public meetings.
• Coordinate with operations, scheduling, marketing, and community engagement teams on service planning efforts.

Grant Funding & Program Development

• Identify funding opportunities and lead the preparation of grant applications to federal, state, and local agencies (including FTA Sections 5307, 5310, 5339, etc.)
• Assist in the development of short- and long-range transit plans aligned with funding strategies.

Regulatory Reporting & Compliance

• Serve as the lead for NTD data collection, validation, and annual report submission to the FTA.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of required FTA reports.
• Stay informed of federal and state regulatory changes affecting public transit operations and planning.
• Stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Represent the agency at public meetings, regional planning committees, and interagency working groups.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with local jurisdictions, MPOs, community organizations, and transit partners.

Typical Physical/Mental Demands/Working Conditions Constant exposure to stress as a result of human behavior and meeting the demands of an operating transit system with deadlines and schedules. May work indoors, sitting, with the ability to move at will, and to work in the field monitoring and reviewing transit activities. A computer keyboard is used for entering and retrieving data and preparing documents. May work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including cold, extreme heat, and rain. Note: Assignments may include early morning, late evening, weekend and holiday work shifts.

Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Transportation, Public Administration, Geography, or related field. Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in transit planning, including service design and regulatory reporting. A Master's degree in Planning or a related field may be substituted for the experience requirement, with a minimum of three (3) actual years of experience. Experience with FTA funding programs and NTD reporting. Knowledge of: Strong knowledge of public transportation systems, planning methodologies, and data analytics. Familiarity with federal and state transit funding programs and regulations. Skills: Proficiency in transit planning software, GIS, Excel, and data visualization tools. Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills. Collaborative and proactive approach to problem-solving.