Transportation Planner

 Position Summary

RailPros is seeking a Transportation Planner with 3–5 years of experience to support planning in the Midwest-Chicago focused on grant development, land use coordination, and rail/transit project delivery. This role is ideal for a planner who wants to grow in railroad planning and infrastructure programs, contribute to federal/state grant pursuits, and support rail/transit capital planning and community/agency coordination.

Chicago transportation experience is a plus (Metra/CTA/CREATE/IDOT/CMAP familiarity) but not required. We are looking for strong foundational planning skills, clear writing, and curiosity about how rail projects move from early concepts to funded programs and implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Planning Project Support

• Support railroad and rail-transit planning studies, including corridor, station-area, yard/terminal, grade crossing, and service planning efforts.
• Assist with alternatives analysis, purpose & need development, planning-level feasibility, and implementation strategies.
• Compile, analyze, and summarize data (ridership/freight context, safety, operations, land use, demographic and economic indicators).
• Support project coordination with internal engineering teams and external stakeholders (railroads, agencies, municipalities.) 

Grants Funding (Major Focus)

• Contribute to grant applications and funding strategies (e.g., FRA/CRISI, RCE, INFRA, USDOT discretionary programs; state programs as applicable).
• Draft or support development of key grant components: problem statement/need, project description, outcomes/benefits, readiness, budget, schedule, and partnerships.
• Help assemble application exhibits and attachments: maps, letters of support templates, benefit narratives, risk/write-ups, and readiness documentation.

Land Use Stakeholder Coordination

• Support land use and community context analysis for rail/transportation investments (station areas, grade crossing corridors, industrial access, freight routes).
• Assist in preparing meeting materials and notes for stakeholder meetings, public engagement, agency workshops, and railroad coordination.

Documentation Deliverables

• Prepare clear, organized written materials: memos, technical summaries, narratives, slide decks, and meeting notes.
• Assist in developing graphics and exhibits (figures, tables, maps, simple diagrams) to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences. 

Required Qualifications (3–5 Years)

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy, Geography/GIS, or similar.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in transportation planning, rail/transit planning, infrastructure planning, grants, or related consulting/public agency work.
• Strong writing skills with experience producing professional planning documents and/or grant narratives.
• Familiarity with transportation data sources, planning methods, and basic project development concepts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); ability to organize information, track actions, and support multiple tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal/state grant applications (USDOT, FRA, FTA, state DOT).
• Exposure to railroad operations concepts (freight/passenger rail, dispatching, capacity constraints, grade crossing issues).
• Experience with GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS), basic mapping, or spatial analysis.
• Familiarity with NEPA/CEQA/SEPA concepts and planning-to-environmental project progression (not required).
• Chicago/Illinois regional familiarity: Metra, CTA, IDOT, CMAP, CREATE, municipal coordination (a plus, not required).
• Experience preparing public-facing materials and facilitating/assisting with public meetings.

Competencies We Value

• Clear communicator: concise writing, organized thinking, and comfort translating technical content for diverse audiences.
• Self-starter mindset: takes ownership of tasks, asks smart questions, and follows through.
• Detail-oriented: able to track inputs, edits, and deadlines across multiple deliverables.
• Team collaborator: works well with planners, engineers, PMs, and external partners.
• Interest in rail: curious about rail/transit systems, project delivery, and funding pathways.

Why RailPros

• Opportunity to work on high-impact rail and transit programs across public agencies, passenger rail, freight rail interfaces, and communities.
• Direct exposure to the full lifecycle: planning → grants → environmental/permitting → design → delivery.
• Collaborative environment with experienced rail professionals and growth pathways to mid-level planning, project management, and grant leadership.

Compensation & Benefits (Template Language)

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision).
• 401(k) with company match (if applicable).
• Paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development support.
• Flexible/hybrid work options based on project needs and performance.

Salary : $85,000 - $100,000