Nature of the Work

Transportation engineers creatively apply scientific principles and technology to the design, construction, and maintenance of highways, airports, and railway and bus systems. They work for governmental agencies, for consulting firms that troubleshoot for the government, and for private firms that produce materials and equipment used in transportation. With increasing urbanization occurring globally, transportation engineers are in high demand to help figure out how to move people and goods safely and efficiently.

Transportation engineers can work in a variety of areas. They can work as traffic engineers and plan new roads or traffic patterns, prepare plans for new multi-lane highways, use technology to monitor traffic flow and conditions, and create alternative routes to congested traffic corridors. Some transportation engineers work in the railways sector, planning for high-speed rail service and developing commuter routes. Some engineers develop entire transportation systems, including roads, subways, commuter trains, and buses. Engineers also supervise the construction or repair of transportation infrastructure.

Part of completing a successful project is to stay within budget. In the initial stage of planning a project, transportation engineers study the costs for doing the project. When figuring out a project's feasibility, they must consider the needs of those being served and whether sufficient land exists for the project to be completed. They determine whether the land is in a location suitable for building and how the projects could affect the environment. Once these factors have been analyzed, transportation engineers compile their findings and share the information with all the agencies involved in building the project.

Some transportation engineers are closely involved in the construction process. They send the project out to several contractors for bidding, gather the bids, and then select the best one. Transportation engineers determine whether available land needs to be filled or treated before building, and they recommend construction methods best suited to the soil types encountered. During road construction, engineers must make sure design plans and highway department standards are fully met. It is the responsibility of the transportation engineer to make sure that their completed projects are safe for all users.

Learn more about transportation engineering in this video by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Work Environment

Transportation engineers may work exclusively in an office setting, though usually they will be required to work at construction sites as well. A transportation engineer should expect to work in all kinds of weather conditions. A 40-hour workweek is typical, though overtime is often necessary as deadlines near.

Training, Other Qualifications

Transportation engineers continue their education by reading technical publications and attending seminars and conferences.

Education and Training

Transportation engineers must have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering for entry-level positions. Some employers prefer a graduate degree for certain jobs. Nearly half of those working today hold master's degrees or PhDs, which may be required for research positions. A PhD is necessary for university-level teaching positions.

Prospective transportation engineers should take high school courses in mathematics and science. Courses in computer-aided design are also helpful.

On the Job

• Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, and roadway lighting.
• Supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components.
• Analyze environmental impact statements for transportation projects.
• Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimates to ensure completeness, accuracy, and conformity to engineering standards and practices.
• Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
• Direct the surveying, staking, and laying-out of construction projects.
• Estimate transportation project costs.
• Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure safety or compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
• Investigate or test specific construction project materials to determine compliance with specifications or standards.
• Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow and safety.
• Model transportation scenarios to evaluate the impacts of activities such as new development or to identify possible solutions to transportation problems.
• Participate in contract bidding, negotiation, or administration.
• Plan alteration and modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
• Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
• Prepare project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor and materials.
• Develop, or assist in the development of, transportation-related computer software or computer processes.
• Evaluate traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
• Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, and pedestrian volume and practices.
• Prepare data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings and meetings.
• Review development plans to determine potential traffic impact.

Companies That Hire Transportation Engineers

• Arup
• Atkins
• URS Corporation

Ask Questions

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Additional Information

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• Goebel, B. (2010, July 1). Traffic Engineer Jack Fleck Looks Back at 25 Years of Shaping SF Streets. SF.StreetsBlog.org. Retrieved November 3, 2010, from http://sf.streetsblog.org/2010/07/01/traffic-engineer-jack-fleck-looks-back-at-25-years-of-shaping-sf-streets/
• StateUniversity.com (2010). Transportation Engineer Job Description, Career as a Transportation Engineer, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job. Net Industries. Retrieved October 31, 2010, from http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/826/Transportation-Engineer.html
• Wikipedia Contributors. (2010, November 2). Transport Engineering. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 3, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transport_engineering&oldid=394386689
• MyPursuit. (n.d.). Transportation Engineer. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://www.mypursuit.com/careers-99-0076.00/Transportation_Engineer.html
• Schmidt, S. (2010, September 9). What Does a Transportation Engineer Do? wiseGEEK.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-transportation-engineer-do.htm
• Michigan Civil Service Commission. (2008, April 2). Job Specification: Transportation Engineer. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/TransportationEngineer_13020_7.pdf

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