What does a Transportation Engineer do?
Published 3 min read
A transportation engineer is responsible for the design and construction of transportation infrastructure projects. This may include highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, and mass transit systems. The engineer must consider factors such as cost, safety, feasibility, and environmental impact when designing a project.
Transportation Engineer job duties include:
- Estimate traffic patterns, design roadways and intersections
- Conduct traffic studies and analyze data
- Develop transportation plans and programs
- Evaluate the environmental impact of transportation projects
- Manage construction contracts for transportation projects
- Plan and coordinate mass transit projects
- Prepare reports and presentations on transportation projects
- Research and develop new transportation technologies
- Serve as a liaison with government agencies on transportation issues
Transportation Engineer Job Requirements
A bachelor's degree in civil engineering is required for this job, as well as experience in the field of transportation engineering. Certification from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is also required.
Transportation Engineer Skills
- Traffic flow
- Traffic management
- Transportation planning
- Pavement design
- Pavement materials
- Construction engineering
- Roadway design
- Traffic engineering
- Civil engineering
- Project management
- Communication
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How to become a Transportation Engineer
A transportation engineer is someone who designs, plans, and oversees the construction of transportation systems. This can include anything from highways and bridges to mass transit systems and airport runways. Transportation engineers must have a strong understanding of physics, mathematics, and engineering principles in order to be successful.
There are a few different ways that one can become a transportation engineer. The most common path is to earn a bachelor's degree in civil engineering with a focus on transportation engineering. Many universities offer programs specifically in transportation engineering, so that may be something to look into as well. Once you have your degree, you will need to pass the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) exam in order to get your professional engineer (PE) license. After you have your PE license, you can then find a job working as a transportation engineer.
If you are interested in becoming a transportation engineer, start by doing some research to learn more about the field and what it entails. Talk to engineers who work in the field to get first-hand insights. Once you have a good understanding of what the job entails, start working towards your degree so that you can eventually take the EIT exam and become licensed. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve your goal of becoming a transportation engineer.
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