Regional Transportation Modeler

Reports to: Transportation Planning and Programming Manager

Salary: $120,000 (dependent on qualifications and experience)

Description

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is seeking a highly motivated Regional Transportation Modeler to join our Transportation Planning and Programming (TPP) team.

At NVTA, we believe teamwork and collaboration lead to better solutions for our region’s transportation challenges. As part of our dynamic team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a range of transportation initiatives. Your unique perspective will help us strengthen both our work and our team to advance NVTA’s continued progress.

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Responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities

The Regional Transportation Modeler position will support the TPP team to deliver specialized modeling services in support of TransAction, the Six Year Program, assistance to member jurisdictions and agencies and other initiatives. Below is an overview of the Transportation Planning and Programming team’s initiatives that this position will contribute to.

  • Lead the development of core capabilities of in-house modeling activities under the guidance of the Transportation Planning and Programing Manager.
  • Lead modeling interrogations to provide more detailed analysis of TransAction projects, specialty groups of projects such as a regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and transportation technologies, geospatial analysis, evaluation of the transportation impact of NVTA-funded projects, and other analyses consistent with NVTA’s primary responsibilities.
  • Assist with long-range planning and forecasting, policy research, economic analyses, data collection, and data analytics to support a significant and growing body of work including NVTA’s statutory responsibilities, including:
    • Long Term Benefit (LTB) and Congestion Reduction Relative to Cost (CRRC) project ratings for NVTA’s Six Year Program updates
    • TransAction Project Ratings for both the Six Year Program and TransAction updates
  • Manage, analyze, summarize, and update large datasets
  • Develop techniques to glean insights from data, apply expertise in data analytics, data mining, and visualization to enhance model development and application.
  • Interpret model outputs and communicate them to non-modeling audiences through reports, visualizations, and presentations.
  • Apply tools for sketch planning, resiliency, and other aspects of planning as appropriate and as needed.
  • Establish appropriate performance metrics, develop monitoring processes, and develop and design reports to present findings to a variety of audiences.
  • Assist with research and analysis of traffic and transit data, including but not limited to congestion/mobility, safety, environmental impacts, and more.
  • Regularly liaise with modeling and data analytics staff at NVTA’s member jurisdictions and regional partners such as Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Transportation Planning Board (TPB), and Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), including leadership of NVTA’s Modeling Working Group.
  • Coordinate with NVTA’s smaller jurisdictions to explore interest in utilizing NVTA’s modeling capabilities for their own projects. 
  • Facilitate a refresh of NVTA’s model when appropriate.

Preferred Characteristics

  • Professional Engineer (PE) or American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification.
  • Familiarity with the development and updating of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG)/TPB region’s cooperative planning forecasts, travel demand models, and air quality conformity analysis models.
  • Self-starter, comfortable working with considerable responsibility with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to work independently and self-sufficiently with the listed NVTA modeling software as well as related data storage and management.
  • Ability to evaluate and manage model tool transitions, as and when required.
  • Experience developing and leading training in transportation planning environment.
  • Ability to effectively schedule, exercise time management, and plan multiple priorities for a team with long- and short-term projects.
  • Ability to interact at varying levels of authority and function as a liaison with internal and external parties.
  • Effective public speaker and communicator orally and in writing.
  • Experience in working with multiple agencies and engendering cooperative relationships.
  • Experience and ability to work with elected leaders within a political environment.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Education: Minimum of a Master’s Degree in transportation planning-related discipline including transportation planning, transportation engineering, and transportation modeling.

Experience:

  • Minimum of two (2) years of professional related experience in metropolitan transportation planning is required.
  • Minimum of two (2) years of experience with development, calibration, validation, and application of multimodal macro-, meso-, and micro-simulation modeling tools and related project coding experience.
  • Minimum of two (2) years of experience using spreadsheet tools such as Microsoft Excel.
  • Familiarity with the development and application of next-generation activity-based planning modeling tools, such as that being developed by the TPB.  
  • Familiarity with the CUBE platform used by NVTA, TBP, and NVTA’s major jurisdictions.
  • Familiarity with specific microsimulation tools such as DTALite.
  • Familiarity with the cloud-based version of CUBE.
  • Familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of different types of modeling tools and software.
  • Relevant planning software programs, e.g., statistical analysis packages, electronic spreadsheets, database management, computer graphics, geographic information systems (GIS), simulation tools, and models.
  • Experience with the use of GIS tools such as ArcGIS for geo-spatial analysis and data visualization.
  • Familiarity with analytical and visualization or dashboard tools such as Power BI and ArcGIS StoryMaps.

Additional Considerations

  • It is preferred that NVTA staff live in Northern Virginia
  • Reimbursable local travel should be anticipated
  • Evening meeting commitments will occur

Working for NVTA

Background

NVTA is a regional entity dedicated to reducing congestion and improving the quality of life for those who live, work and travel in Northern Virginia. Through a dedicated revenue stream, NVTA invests in multimodal transportation solutions, ranging from roadway and rail improvements to technology, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and bus transit expansion.

Since securing its revenue stream in 2013, NVTA has invested nearly $5 billion in projects across Northern Virginia. Collectively, these investments are projected to:

  • Create 42,000 new jobs,
  • Save 500 million hours of travel time by 2034, and
  • Generate $8 billion in savings for Northern Virginia taxpayers.

NVTA’s work is guided by TransAction, Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan, and the Six Year Program, the regional funding program adopted by NVTA every two years that is valued at approximately $700 million.

NVTA operates with a highly collaborative team of 21 professionals across three areas: Transportation Planning & Programming, Finance/Administration and Communications/Public Engagement. The Authority’s small, dynamic staff requires individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment, have judgment, and work independently while building strong relationships with regional partners.

Work Environment

NVTA staff currently work in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with the remaining portion of the week working remote. Each employee has an individual hard walled office.

Work will typically be performed in a quiet, office environment. Support to Authority (and potentially committee) meetings will be in a public meeting environment. Authority and committee meetings are often conducted during evening hours. Attendance at other regional evening meetings may be required. During periods of public engagement, evening and weekend work may be required.

NVTA has been designated as a Best Workplace for Commuters with offices located near major highways (I-66 and I-495), the Dunn Loring Metro Station (Orange Line), and a commuter bus lot served by Fairfax Connector and Metrobus. Employees can also access the nearby I-66 active transportation trail.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Short and long-term disability insurance
  • Membership in the Virginia State Retirement System (VRS) Plans
  • Life insurance
  • Annual & Sick leave as well as 14 holidays
  • Flexible spending accounts (health/dependent care)
  • Free in-building fitness center
  • Commuter benefits program (Metro & Capital Bikeshare)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation or disability.