Overview
Transportation careers in state government support the safe, reliable and efficient movement of people, goods and services. State transportation agencies plan, build, operate and maintain roads, bridges, transit systems, airports, rail networks, ports, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and other systems that connect communities.
Transportation work can include engineering, planning, project management, construction, maintenance, safety, environmental review, data analysis, logistics, public engagement and policy. These roles are important to daily life because transportation systems affect access to jobs, schools, healthcare, emergency services and economic opportunity.
What You Might Work On
In state government, professionals in this field often:
- Support the planning, design, construction or maintenance of roads, bridges, transit systems and other transportation infrastructure
- Analyze traffic patterns, safety data, project needs or transportation system performance
- Coordinate with local governments, contractors, consultants, federal agencies and community members on transportation projects
- Help ensure transportation projects meet safety, accessibility, environmental and regulatory requirements
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Are interested in how people, goods and services move through communities
- Like solving practical problems related to safety, infrastructure, planning or operations
- Want to work on projects that have a visible impact on daily life and economic activity
- Enjoy working with maps, data, schedules or field information to understand transportation needs
- Are interested in balancing public safety, community needs, environmental impacts and long-term infrastructure goals
Where You Could Work
State government is broad—so where do you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area or the kind of impact you want to make (i.e., in public health, education or transportation).
Keep in mind: Mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many state agencies depending on the mission area, including:
- Transportation and infrastructure: Colorado Department of Transportation
- Public transit and mobility: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Aviation, ports and freight: Maryland Aviation Administration
- Public safety and emergency response: New York State Department of Transportation Traffic Management Center
Sample Positions
Highway Maintenance Specialist
| Employer / agency | Colorado Department of Transportation |
| Location(s) | Yuma County, Colorado |
| Mission context | Public servants in this role help keep Colorado’s transportation system safe and reliable by maintaining highways, responding to roadway conditions and supporting year-round travel. |
In this role, you may:
- Maintain and repair highways, roadsides, signs, guardrails, drainage systems and other transportation infrastructure
- Operate equipment and respond to weather, traffic incidents or other roadway conditions that affect public safety
Transportation Analyst/Trainee 1/Trainee 2
| Employer / agency | New York State Department of Transportation, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council |
| Location(s) | New York, New York |
| Mission context | Public servants in this role support regional transportation planning for the New York metropolitan area, including transportation improvement programs, planning work programs, regional transportation plans and travel-demand modeling. |
In this role, you may:
- Research, collect and analyze transportation data, maintain databases, and support quality assurance and quality control of project information
- Prepare reports, meeting materials and public-outreach content while supporting transportation planning, modeling and coordination with member agencies and the public
Transportation Engineer 2 (Engineering)
| Employer / agency | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Location(s) | Newington, Connecticut |
| Mission context | Public servants in this role support transportation infrastructure projects by helping the Connecticut Department of Transportation manage cost-estimating systems, project data and bid analysis for capital projects. |
In this role, you may:
- Support and maintain AASHTOWare Project tools, including user accounts, software modules, training materials, and reports in AWP and Power BI
- Prepare engineer’s estimates, review design estimates and evaluate contractor bids to help determine whether project costs are fair and reasonable
