Transportation Planners
Official O*NET title: Transportation Planners (19-3099.01)
Also called: transport planner, planner, program officer, transportation analyst, transportation data programs manager
Do you do this at work?
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Do you do this at work?
Prepare or review engineering studies or specifications
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing transportation planners work
9 of 21 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 43%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Prepare or review engineering studies or specifications (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Analyze information from traffic counting programs (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Direct urban traffic counting programs (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare reports or recommendations on transportation planning (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design transportation surveys to identify areas of public concern (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Develop computer models to address transportation planning issues (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Review development plans for transportation system effects, infrastructure requirements, or compliance with applicable transportation regulations (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Develop or test new methods or models of transportation analysis (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Define regional or local transportation planning problems or priorities (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Analyze information related to transportation (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Interpret data from traffic modeling software, geographic information systems, or associated databases (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Collaborate with other professionals to develop sustainable transportation strategies at the local, regional, or national level (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Evaluate transportation project needs or costs (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare necessary documents to obtain planned project approvals or permits (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Produce environmental documents (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Evaluate transportation-related consequences of federal or state legislative proposals (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Design new or improved transport infrastructure (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Define or update information such as urban boundaries or classification of roadways (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Represent jurisdictions in the legislative or administrative approval of land development projects — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Prepare or review engineering studies or specifications”. Try the prompt for: “Analyze information from traffic counting programs”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and transportation planners
Will AI replace transportation planners?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 9 of the 21 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 13 of the 22 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which transportation planner tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: prepare or review engineering studies or specifications; analyze information from traffic counting programs; direct urban traffic counting programs.
Which transportation planner tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: participate in public meetings or hearings to explain planning proposals, to gather feedback from those affected by projects, or to achieve consensus on project designs; collaborate with engineers to research, analyze, or resolve complex transportation design issues; recommend transportation system improvements or projects, based on economic, population, land-use, or traffic projections. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 94% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a transportation planner start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Transportation Planners ranks #163 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #17 of 45 in Science & Research.
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