Transportation Planner I

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Salary: $66,826.00 - $96,061.79 Commensurate with Experience

Thank you for your interest in joining the team that keeps Charlotte moving, at a very exciting time for our organization. At the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transit services for our growing community, and we value employees who bring professionalism, passion, and a commitment to public service.

 

This position is currently employed by CATS, a department of the City of Charlotte. With the passage of the PAVE Act and last year’s sales tax referendum, CATS is preparing to transition from a City department to the newly created Metropolitan Public Transit Authority (MPTA). The MPTA was established to strengthen regional transit governance, improve accountability, and support long‑term investment in mobility. It’s an important and exciting step forward for transit in our region.

 

Employees hired into this role will remain City employees through December 31, 2026, and will transition to MPTA employment on January 1, 2027. Benefits and compensation will follow City provisions through 2026 and shift to MPTA provisions in 2027, with clear information shared in advance. Your core duties, reporting structure, and daily responsibilities will remain consistent, with no break in service. If anything delays the transition, your City employment, including compensation and benefits, will remain in place until the move to the MPTA occurs.

 

The creation of the MPTA positions us for a more modern, sustainable, and efficient transit system, one that can better support the Charlotte region for decades to come. We’re excited about what’s ahead and appreciate your interest in being part of it.

SUMMARY

The Transit Planner I performs entry-level professional planning work supporting transit planning, service planning, regional and corridor planning, scheduling-related planning support, GIS needs and other planning initiatives across the agency’s service area. Working under direct supervision, this position assists with service analysis, field investigation, map and data review, stakeholder coordination, and preparation of technical and public-facing materials used to support service improvements, planning studies, stop-level changes, and other transit planning activities.

This role is designed as a broadly applicable planner classification that may be assigned to service planning, long-range or regional planning, or selected planning-related assignments supporting scheduling and implementation. Work is generally structured and recurring in nature and is performed within established procedures, planning standards, and agency guidance. Assignments may include elements of route and stop review, development and land use coordination, public information support, corridor or station-area research, field verification, and preparation of maps, summaries, and technical support materials.

The Transit Planner I helps strengthen CATS’ planning function by providing dependable analytical and project support, improving documentation and data quality, supporting field-informed planning decisions, and building foundational professional capability in public transit planning practice.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

Planning and Analysis

• Assists in developing, modifying, documenting, or evaluating transit services, planning concepts, stop changes, corridor improvements, or related planning initiatives.

• Collects, reviews, and organizes data such as ridership, on-time performance, stop conditions, demographic indicators, land use information, or operational observations to support planning decisions.

• Supports evaluation and application of service standards, accessibility guidance, agency planning criteria, and other established planning practices.

• Assists with basic research, issue identification, and analytical support for planning studies, service changes, and operational or capital planning needs.

Fieldwork and Implementation Support

• Conducts field assessments of bus stops, routes, development sites, facilities, or corridors to document current conditions, accessibility needs, customer-facing issues, or operational considerations.

• Assists in preparing clear instructions, sketches, maps, site notes, or supporting material needed to implement service changes, stop modifications, or other planning recommendations.

• Verifies field conditions against maps, data, schedules, plans, or other documentation and identifies discrepancies for follow-up.

• Supports implementation-related coordination by helping gather and organize information needed by other departments and project teams.

Data Management, Mapping, and Documentation

• Maintains or updates datasets related to service planning, bus stop assets, route performance, corridor conditions, or other planning information.

• Prepares reports, summaries, maps, graphics, and supporting documentation to help communicate planning findings and recommendations.

• Uses planning software and tools such as ArcGIS, Remix, spreadsheets, and related applications to organize and present information clearly.

• Helps ensure planning files, datasets, and work products are complete, organized, and suitable for staff, management, and project use.

Development Review and Interdepartmental Coordination

• Assists in reviewing rezoning applications, development proposals, corridor plans, or public infrastructure changes to identify potential transit impacts, opportunities, or coordination needs.

• Works with internal departments and external agencies to gather information, communicate planning needs, and support coordinated transit-related improvements.

• Supports assigned planning staff or managers in meetings, follow-up coordination, and documentation of next steps.

• Helps maintain productive working relationships with partners involved in transit planning or implementation activities.

Public Information and Stakeholder Support

• Assists in preparing materials for outreach, marketing, presentations, or public information related to service changes, planning studies, or agency planning programs.

• Supports stakeholder meetings, public engagement activities, and internal coordination efforts by preparing materials and documenting input or follow-up items.

• Helps communicate planning information in a clear, accurate, and accessible manner.

• Supports a responsive and organized approach to customer- and community-facing planning work.

Core Competencies:

The position requires demonstrated competency in the following areas:

Planning Support and Analysis – Ability to provide dependable analytical and project support across a variety of transit planning assignments using established methods and guidance.

• Assists with planning work in a structured and organized manner.

• Supports collection, organization, and basic interpretation of relevant planning information.

• Contributes to clear and useful work products for staff and management.

Attention to Detail and Data Accuracy – Ability to handle planning data, field observations, and documentation accurately and consistently.

• Reviews information carefully for completeness and obvious discrepancies.

• Maintains care in data entry, map review, field notes, and file organization.

• Supports stronger reliability of planning information and outputs.

Field Awareness and Practical Implementation Support – Ability to observe conditions in the field and connect those observations to planning and implementation needs.

• Documents stop, route, corridor, and site conditions clearly and accurately.

• Recognizes visible issues that may affect accessibility, service delivery, or implementation.

• Supports better-informed planning recommendations through field-based information.

Work Organization and Reliability – Ability to manage recurring assignments and follow established procedures in a dependable manner.

• Keeps assigned work current and organized.

• Follows through on deadlines, documentation needs, and recurring tasks.

• Supports timely completion of planning assignments.

Collaboration and Service Orientation – Ability to work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders while supporting shared planning objectives.

• Communicates clearly and professionally.

• Responds helpfully to requests for information and support.

• Contributes to a dependable and cooperative work environment.

Learning Agility – Ability to learn transit planning concepts, tools, systems, and standards and apply them effectively in daily work.

• Builds knowledge through instruction, repetition, and feedback.

• Adapts to different assignments across service, regional, or implementation-related planning work.

• Demonstrates initiative in developing professional planning capability.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, transportation planning, geography, public administration, engineering, architecture, community development, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience in internships, part-time work, academic projects, public-sector work, research support, customer-facing fieldwork, GIS support, or other planning-related experience may be considered qualifying.
• Experience using standard office software, spreadsheets, mapping viewers, GIS applications, or similar analytical and documentation tools is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in public transit, transportation, local government, MPO, community planning, or another public-sector planning environment.

• Experience supporting service planning, stop planning, development review, regional planning, scheduling support, or corridor planning work.
• Experience with ArcGIS, Remix, Tableau, or similar mapping and planning tools.
• Experience preparing maps, summaries, presentations, or public-facing materials.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles of transit planning, multimodal transportation, accessibility, and public-sector planning practice.

• Local, state, and federal requirements applicable to transit planning, including ADA, Title VI, and related public-sector considerations.

• Foundational GIS, mapping, and spatial analysis concepts related to transportation networks, stops, corridors, and land-use planning.

• Basic data collection, documentation, and field verification practices relevant to planning work.

Skill in:

• Using planning tools and software such as ArcGIS, Remix, Microsoft Office, Excel, GIS viewers, or similar tools to support planning workflows.

• Collecting, organizing, and interpreting data in support of operational or planning analysis.

• Preparing maps, summaries, field notes, and supporting documentation clearly and accurately.

• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to complete shared work products.

• Communicating clearly in written, verbal, and visual forms.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in written, verbal, and visual forms, including maps, summaries, and presentation materials.

• Work both independently and collaboratively while managing multiple tasks and deadlines.

• Conduct fieldwork at bus stops, corridors, development sites, or other agency locations as part of planning duties.

• Learn new tools, methods, and standards related to evolving transit planning practices.

• Follow established procedures and apply guidance consistently in a deadline-driven environment.

• Recognize issues, missing information, or field conditions that should be elevated for review.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

• Works in a combination of office, meeting, and field environments with regular interaction with planning staff, operations staff, external agencies, and community stakeholders.

• Requires regular use of computers, GIS and planning software, spreadsheets, and other standard office and communication equipment.

• Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and handling of documents and related materials.

• May require field visits to bus stops, corridors, development sites, facilities, or other locations, including exposure to weather and active transportation environments.

• May occasionally be required to attend evening meetings, public meetings, or project-related activities.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected]

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.