Full-Time Transportation Planner 12
Job Description
About the Organization:
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is responsible for Michigan’s 9,669-mile state highway system, comprised of all M, I and US routes. MDOT also administers other state and federal transportation programs for aviation, intercity passenger services, rail freight, local public transit services, grant programs, and others.
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Position Description:
This position functions as a senior level transportation planner responsible for the coordination of environmental classification, certification and compliance as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 for major and innovative delivery projects statewide. The coordination of environmental classification and certification requires close collaboration with consultants and Environmental Services Section (ESS) subject matter experts, Office of Major Projects staff, consultants, region offices, Transportation Service Centers (TSCs), and other central office staff during project development. This position researches innovative project development and NEPA topics and develops and maintains guidelines and standards with a focus on innovative contracting procedures for environmental clearance.
Responsibilities:
- Analyze potential environmental impacts in all phases of transportation projects statewide, identify NEPA class of actions, determine consultant scopes of services, and review and comment on work products in collaboration with subject matter experts in the ESS.
- Develop innovative approaches to avoiding, minimizing or mitigating environmental impacts. Vet innovations with other areas of MDOT (e.g., regions, Roadside Development, Wetlands) to ensure they can be implemented. Lead meetings to report on and determine best option for analysis report.
- For major projects, oversee and direct quality reviews of consultant Environmental Assessments (EA), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), and Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) studies. This includes ensuring the technical aspects of the documents are summarized and explained in a language easily understood by the public in order to provide to the public when needed.
- Review progress reports and design activities from MDOT staff and consultants for compliance with NEPA at various stages of the project and participate in project milestone meetings.
- Function as the environmental lead and primary point of contact in the ESS for major action environmental projects (e.g., EAs, EISs, public controversy) and innovative delivery projects.
- Guide interdisciplinary teams of environmental specialists, planners and engineers on the production of NEPA documents and ensure the study stays on schedule.
- Support project managers to develop a detailed project schedule identifying all required surveys, resource agency coordination and deliverables throughout project phases for environmental clearance.
- Identify milestones and critical path items and coordinate with consultants to meet schedule requirements.
- Support the project manager to develop and coordinate the department’s project team to ensure compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.
- Coordinate with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other state department officials to streamline the environmental clearance process.
- Assure that commitments made in the environmental clearance phase of projects are incorporated into the plan and proposal package.
- Coordinate with the ESS mitigation follow-up specialist on development of environmental commitments for construction. Provide support to the mitigation follow-up process.
- Make recommendations to leadership in negotiating program and process changes with FHWA, other areas within MDOT, and state and federal regulatory agencies on matters regarding NEPA clearance for major and innovative delivery federal-aid projects statewide that have significant economic and environmental complexities.
- Coordinate with subject matter experts to ensure they have needed information and their questions are being answered by the project development staff, and guide the decision-making process to achieve an environmentally acceptable transportation project.
- As the environmental lead, employ conflict resolution techniques for projects where environmental factors may conflict with one another or when interpretation of laws, guidance or regulations are in question. This includes providing expert opinion on conflict resolution options to project managers, MDOT management and consultants in a timely manner to minimize impacts to the project schedule while satisfying NEPA requirements.
- Document internal processes used to develop and meet innovative contracting project environmental clearance requirements.
- Create and update existing manuals and guidelines for environmental clearance procedures and requirements for NEPA when utilizing innovative contracting methods of delivery.
- Continually research, monitor and report on new methods and techniques for delivery of environmental clearance for projects utilizing innovative contracting techniques.
- Use the electronic tracking system to ensure subject matter expert reviews are completed on time.
- Collect and electronically post digital maps and consult databases for useful information for the environmental impact analysis.
- Advise MDOT leadership, region project managers, design staff, and finance personnel of the environmental concerns/constraints and the environmental review status of projects.
- Review and respond to changes in scope of work during the design process.
This work area provides environmental clearance for MDOT projects, primarily under the NEPA so that MDOT may maintain federal funding for its projects. The ESS contains experts in many fields so that an interdisciplinary team is available to identify significant environmental resources, analyze project impacts, assist with the development of avoidance and minimization alternatives, and develop mitigation for unavoidable impacts. The ESS staff also serve as MDOT’s liaisons to resource and regulatory agencies overseeing state and federal environmental laws.
This position works on the higher impact, major action projects that require more substantial environmental analysis in the form of a pre-NEPA planning study, an EA, or an EIS. This position coordinates these larger, more complex studies with other interdisciplinary team members and consultants to satisfy FHWA NEPA requirements. This position is responsible for assisting the MDOT Innovative Contracting Unit and the Office of Major Projects to develop scope of services and provide expertise for NEPA compliance deliverables for innovative contracts.
Basic Requirements for Skills, Experience, Education and Credentials:
Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any major with at least 30 semester (45 term) credits in one or a combination of the following: planning (city, community, environmental, regional, and/or urban), environmental studies and/or sustainability, engineering, statistics, mathematics, geography, geographic/geospatial information systems, logistics and/or supply chain management, or economics.
Experience:
Transportation Planner 12
Three years of professional experience in the planning and assessment of transportation planner systems equivalent to a transportation planner, including one year equivalent to a transportation planner P11.
Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:
Extensive knowledge of:
- Federal and state laws and regulations related to NEPA and environmental clearance activities.
- Innovative contracting methods and procedures.
Ability to:
- Communicate effectively in person and through reports, presentations and electronic media with citizens, government officials, engineers, other specialists, and state and federal agency personnel.
- Work independently without close supervision.
- Read and interpret design plans.
Skill in:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
How to Apply
Applying for this position: Please apply for this position at the following link: Transportation Planner 12 (Major and Innovative Delivery Projects) Bureau of Development | Job Details tab | Career Pages (governmentjobs.com) Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled: Accessibility Notice: Attendees who require mobility, visual, hearing, written or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or CurryO@Michigan.gov, preferably at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting. Forms are located on the Title VI webpage www.Michigan.gov/MDOT/Programs/Title-VI. Requests made after this timeframe will be evaluated and honored to the extent possible. Accommodations can be made for persons who require mobility, visual, hearing, written, or other assistance for participation. Large print materials, auxiliary aids or the services of interpreters, signers, or readers are available upon request. Contact MDOT-LaborRelations@Michigan.gov or 517-335-8147, or complete Form 2658 for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting requests. Requests should be made at least five days prior to the meeting date. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide the requested accommodation or an effective alternative, but accommodations may not be guaranteed.55 total views, 0 today