Transportation Planning Interns

About WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the steward of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that helps to ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, WSDOT operates the largest ferry system in the nation, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and recently completed the world's widest tunneling project. 

The Opportunity

WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division (ATD), Olympic Region and North Central Region Multimodal Planning Divisions are currently seeking to fill four Transportation Planning Technician 1 internship positions. The positions are based in Olympia, Lacey, and Wenatchee, WA, respectively, and each position provides remote work options. These are unique opportunities for currently enrolled or recently graduated students looking to apply their classroom training to real world scenarios. The Transportation Planning Technician 1 internships provide the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the practical application of multimodal transportation procedures, concepts, and techniques in an on-the-job environment.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Transportation Planning Technician Intern may:

• Develop materials and content for complete streets and safe system implementation grounded in principles of transportation equity by reviewing, assessing, and synthesizing relevant transportation safety materials. 
• Assist with the preparation and/or update of various planning studies, analyses, and initiatives including corridor and subarea plans.
• Review project documents and web content for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to WSDOT standards.
• Review Comprehensive Plans and transportation studies prepared by local agencies, MPOs, and RTPOs to assess consistency with statutory requirements and WSDOT policies and interests.
• Assist other staff in identifying and clearly communicating opportunities for change in policies, procedures, and programs that will create a more equitable system for all transportation system users. 
• Assist in developing work plans and content for WSDOT Safety and Active Transportation Programs.
• Support the development of a Community Council program.
• Collect and analyze data, including using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for data related tasks. 
• Review literature, write reports, and present results to identified audiences.
• Learn about transportation safety for all modes, the agency’s strategic highway safety and active transportation plans and goals, programs, and projects by participating in tasks that help shape content for delivery.
• Prepare reports, technical memorandums, briefings, and presentations on deliverables.
• Participate in meetings, conferences, and other events.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

• Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate (within the last 2 years) from a college institution.
• Demonstrated ability to convey technical concepts to a general non-technical audience through written and graphic formats.
• Experience with and an understanding of active transportation modes of travel (walking, cycling, micro-mobility, inclusive of use of mobility assistance device related to a disability).

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Possess strong technical skills with the capability to learn and use a variety of software such as Microsoft Office and various online databases to collect data and produce reports and graphics.
• Experience (school and/or work) with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online (AGOL), and related ESRI products (e.g. Storymaps) or any other GIS software.
• Fully understand basic research methods and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret images to report data.
• Experience and knowledge of transportation and/or land use issues on a local, state, and/or national level affecting racialized people, people with disabilities, people living on a limited income, immigrant and refugee community members, and others who experience disproportionate transportation burdens and barriers.
• Bilingual candidate preferred as many of the community members WSDOT serves are from different cultures and backgrounds.

 Important Notes 

• This recruitment will be used to fill four internship positions and may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.  
• These are non-permanent internships, expected to last approximately 5 months in duration.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.