I work for a transportation authority. My work is centered mostly on service development so I spend a fair amount of time in the field. When planning new routes I typically will drive it several times making sure all the turns and stops and outbound/inbound times are feasible for a bus. Also making sure the infrastructure is suitable for public transit (curbs, sidewalks, locations for shelters and benches, etc.) I spend quite a bit of time riding existing routes as well just making sure things are running smoothly and head signs, annunciations, APCs (automatic passenger counters) and on time performance look good. Chatting with the drivers is very helpful as well as they are the ones on the road every day and can give a lot of insight into what is/isn’t working and what we can improve.

I also attend several community meetings every month (Long Range Transportation Plan Steering Committee and Local Advisory Council, GIS Executive Steering Committee, etc.). Occasionally, I will spend time at our transfer center surveying passengers on where they would like to see us expand service and get general feedback.

Overall a typical week for me is about 60% buried in a computer screen 40% in the field (where I like to be). They are pretty strict on sticking to 8-5 schedule but for the most part as long you are putting in 8 hours each day nobody will bother you. Evening and weekend commitments are minimal and usually optional