Planner or Senior Planner

Posting number: 2026-00290

Department: Metro Transit

Division: Route and System Planning

Job classification: Senior Planner-NR

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Planning and Development

Summary

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Metropolitan Council’s Metro Transit Division is one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and provides ridership through an integrated network of buses, light rail, and commuter trains, as well as a resource for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike in the Twin Cities.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region: 

The Service Development is responsible for planning, analyzing, and scheduling existing and future bus and rail service schedules.  Planners within the Service Development department analyze, develop, recommend, and implement improvements and innovations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Metro Transit and regional transit service. Within the System Planning group, this role will focus on recommending and implementing Transit Advantage projects such as the Better Bus Routes program and bus lanes. 

Examples of duties

• Planner: 
  • Supports and administers Transit Advantage planning assignments; gathers and analyzes data on assigned projects; and prepares summary reports. Performs a portion of a major project as a team member under general supervision. Examples of projects include Better Bus Routes and bus lane implementations.
  • Coordinates with transitway and roadway projects, including participation in technical working groups, providing input on Transit Advantage elements to be incorporated with a project, and coordinating with internal stakeholders on review of designs.
  • Performs system performance monitoring, including understanding the impact of Transit Advantage projects, developing techniques to perform pre- and post-implementation analysis, and communicating performance information to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Researches, investigates, and surveys available sources for information related to various planning projects.
  • Prepares plans, maps, diagrams and graphs, and drafts staff reports.
  • Collaborate with internal planners and engineers to review roadway projects and design Transit Advantage projects.
  • May act as liaison with interest groups, communities, counties, regional, and state agencies.
  • Provides assistance on technical and procedural aspects of planning.
  • Performs other related duties.
• Senior Planner:  
  • Manages and administers Transit Advantage planning assignments; gathers and analyzes data on assigned projects; and prepares summary reports. Independently leads major projects as a team member with general supervision. Examples of projects include Better Bus Routes and bus lane implementations.
  • Manages elements of the overall Transit Advantages program such as the Better Bus Routes program. Analyze and recommend future projects; prepare budgets and capital improvements program or operating funding requests.
  • Coordinates with transitway and roadway projects, including participation in technical working groups, providing input on Transit Advantage elements to be incorporated with a project, and coordinating with internal stakeholders on review of designs.
  • System performance monitoring, including understanding the impact of Transit Advantage projects, developing techniques to perform pre- and post-implementation analysis, and communicating performance information to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Analyzes and interprets existing policies, plans and implementation programs relating to Transit Advantages.
  • Prepares plans; relates plans to goals and policies and analyzes possible conflicts or contradictions; prepares graphic material and prepares summary reports.
  • Develops scopes of work for various levels pf plans, projects, and guidance documents and manage assigned projects.
  • Act as liaison with interest groups, communities, counties, regional, and state agencies.
  • May o