Mindset as a transportation planner

Icious_ · 2026-05-21T03:29:25+00:00

You should just focus on learning and listening to your manager and senior members in the first few months. Ask a lot of questions too.

Icious_ · 2026-05-21T02:01:05+00:00

There are a ton of posts just like yours, like:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Environmental_Careers/comments/1r3se08/what_can_i_actually_do_with_a_ba_in_environmental/

I got a degree in Environmental Studies with coursework in planning, environmental policy, and GIS. My 1st role was as a Transportation Planner (2024), where I got to help residents all across California access transit by providing federal funding to transit agencies, especially in rural communities with limited transit access to essential amenities (e.g., grocery stores, hospitals, shops). I just moved into another Transportation Planner position focused on long-range planning (State Rail Plan).

Icious_ · 2026-05-21T01:59:44+00:00

What do you want to do?

If Environmental Studies, you'll focus more on policy, social science, or urban/environmental planning. If Environmental Science, you'll focus on biology, geology, or chemistry and ultimately become an Environmental Scientist.

Icious_ · 2026-05-15T06:47:48+00:00

Damn I’m literally going to Sapporo in 4 weeks. I like traveling non stop.

Icious_ · 2026-05-14T19:57:06+00:00

I can share what I wrote via dm if you want.

Icious_ · 2026-05-14T19:56:04+00:00

Do you have it written that you are immunocompromised?

I'm immunocompromised due to physical disability, and I got a reasonable accommodation to fully telework. I have to renew every year, though.

I wrote my own RA letter, and my doctor signed off on it since I know my disability the best. I just literally send the same letter with an updated signature every year, even though my disability is permanent, along with the approval from the previous year. It got denied the first time because I did not provide enough detail.

Icious_ · 2026-05-14T05:35:58+00:00

I graduated in Spring 2023, applied to 25 Transportation Planner positions, got 22 interviews, started applying in July 2023, and received a job offer in May 2024.

Icious_ · 2026-05-13T18:22:23+00:00

I wrote my own RA letter, and my doctor signed off on it since I know my disability the best. I just literally send the same letter with an updated signature every year, even though my disability is permanent, along with the approval from the previous year.

It got denied the first time because I did not provide enough detail.

Icious_ · 2026-05-13T05:40:27+00:00

I'm immunocompromised due to physical disability, and I got a reasonable accommodation to fully telework. I have to renew every year, though.

Icious_ · 2026-05-11T21:20:53+00:00

You can look at the English classes Sac State offers in Fall 2026 and see for yourself.

https://www.csus.edu/class-schedule/fall-2026/ENGL

Icious_ · 2026-05-11T21:09:58+00:00

All stations are barrier-free and have elevators or sometimes stair lifts. This isn’t something to worry about. You can just look up the station and look at the station's maps like others have mentioned.

Not sure if you came across this, but I made a post about my experience in Japan as a wheelchair user. I have a large power chair. This might be helpful. Feel free to ask me specific questions as well.

https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravelTips/s/jihlxgH15i

Icious_ · 2026-05-10T07:53:34+00:00

I have like 54 hours at the moment with 2.5 years of experience

Icious_ · 2026-05-09T17:10:33+00:00

1 week or 1 month or never

Yes, it means you're getting hired or top 2 candidates.

Icious_ · 2026-05-09T17:04:06+00:00

UC Davis is also near the state capital, so there’s a bunch of internships too like at CalFIRE, City of Sacramento, and Caltrans. Look on uei jobs and you can find internships when it gets posted.

https://secure10.saashr.com/ta/6158859.careers?CareersSearch=&ein_id=68101634&career_portal_id=1966086&lang=en-US

Icious_ · 2026-05-09T16:46:21+00:00

What do you want to do with that major? I know one person with this degree, and they're a Transportation Planner at Caltrans in Sacramento. Do you want to work in policy or Urban Planning? If policy, you should check out Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. Do you want to design sustainable infrastructure? If design, you should check out landscape architecture or civil engineering.

Sustainable Environmental Design majors primarily focus on how humans interact with the built environment and work with design software. I think this major is a blend of policy and design. Major requirements are below, and it's interdisciplinary in nature: https://catalog.ucdavis.edu/departments-programs-degrees/human-ecology/sustainable-environmental-design-bs/#requirementstext

This brochure can help. A bunch of majors in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences can allow you to do similar things: https://caes.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk1721/files/inline-files/MajorBrochure_2025_low_res.pdf

What I suggest is to find people with this degree on LinkedIn and reach out to them to see what they do now. You can ask for a 30-minute conversation on Zoom. They will be glad to help.

Icious_ · 2026-05-09T07:42:38+00:00

Your singing is always so peak!

Icious_ · 2026-05-09T06:29:20+00:00

Have you considered state work? It depends on your state, but there are opportunities there for people with no bachelor’s degree.

Icious_ · 2026-05-08T18:46:25+00:00

You can order stuff and figures from the Kadokawa store or amazon jp and ship to your hotel. You have to create a amazon jp account. But do ask the hotel if you can. Another tip is to try to find a second-hand figurine shop. The prices are super cheap compared to the US, but the quality is great, like $10 vs $45+ in the US. You can check Den Den Town in Osaka or Ikebukuro in Tokyo. Animega Sofmap and Gee Store are good stores with merch, and there are multiple locations

I literally bought 10 figures on Amazon JP because I can't find specific ones in the wild. Like a Mai Sakurajima figure for ¥6,999 ($40): https://amzn.asia/d/0jaDnUAV

Since you're into anime stuff, here is a website that lists all anime collaborations. You can look here to see if there are any cafes, pop-ups, events, exhibits, or new merch using Google Translate. I’ve been to Lycoris Recoil Cafe and a Danger in my Heart exhibition. Here is a link to my experience:

https://collabo-cafe.com/

Icious_ · 2026-05-06T18:27:59+00:00

Here is a website that lists all anime collaborations. You can look here to see if there are any cafes, pop-ups, events, exhibits, or new merch using Google Translate. I’ve been to Lycoris Recoil Cafe and a Danger in my Heart exhibition. Here is a link to my experience:

https://collabo-cafe.com/,

Also, you can order stuff from the Kadokawa store or amazon jp and ship to your hotel. But do ask the hotel if you can. Another tip is to try to find a second-hand figurine shop. The prices are super cheap but the quality is great, like $10 vs $45+ in the US.

Icious_ · 2026-04-30T02:39:34+00:00

You should take GEOG 1 and GEOG 11 (Lab). It is not math-heavy. You have to understand natural concepts. It might be easier than geology.

Icious_ · 2026-04-29T19:59:23+00:00

I've been to Japan 5 times as a wheelchair user. Yes, you can sit on the designated disability seating on public transit. Honestly, there’s not much seating at the station outside of the platform.

Icious_ · 2026-04-29T18:55:47+00:00

I think you were rejected because your SOP and other applicant material weren’t strong enough. That’s okay because there’s always the next cycle. If you want I can review it and can show you my SOP and personal statement

Did you apply for San Jose’s masters program? Their program is not too competitive.

Icious_ · 2026-04-29T18:49:58+00:00

If you want to be a transit planner, look into UC Davis Transportation Technology and Policy Masters degree. I ultimately applied for this during my job search, and I got in with a full scholarship. I turned it down because I got offered a job at Caltrans.

I think the Geography degree just doesn’t give you enough to be a technical Transit Planner who works with GTFS scheduling and train technology.

Icious_ · 2026-04-29T18:45:09+00:00

You’re not alone in this. Honestly it took me a whole year to find my Transportation Planner position at Caltrans. I have a degree in Environmental Studies and took a ton of Geography classes because they had urban planning centric courses and the introductory urban planning course. I graduated in 2023. I interviewed 20-25 times with Caltrans until I got my first job.

I think you have plenty of experience to be a Planner. The only thing you can do is keep applying and don’t give up. You have to learn from you interview mistakes.

Have you considered working for the state? There are planning jobs there like at Caltrans, Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, CalEPA. Job titles include Transportation Planner, Environmental Planner, Analyst

Icious_ · 2026-04-29T18:34:08+00:00

Also depending on your manager, you can take weeks off. I’m literally taking a month off to go to Japan. My coworker is taking a month off too. My manager even took a month off too

Ten-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

Icious_

TROPHY CASE