What are the responsibilities and job description for the Transportation Planning Intern - Program Support position at Town of Chapel Hill, NC?
The Office of Mobility and Greenways is seeking a motivated and organized self-starter to fill the role of Transportation Planning Intern. This position is responsible for working with Town staff on transportation planning projects, multimodal data analysis, Vision Zero, Safe Routes to School (SRTS), demographics studies, GIS data management, and other special studies.
The position offers exposure to local government transportation planning focused on bicycle, pedestrian, and transit, and oversight from transportation planning professionals. The successful candidate will have opportunity to work with planners from multiple disciplines, other Town departments, private sector firms, and members of the public.
This position is available May 2026 – August 2026, with the option of extending into the 2026-2027 academic year. The candidate is expected to work 40 hours a week over the summer and 10-15 during the academic year, with flexibility to work more or less depending on course load, breaks from school, holidays, etc.
The candidate may not work more than 950 hours in a rolling 12-month period.
Physical Demands
Work is generally performed while sitting or standing at a desk with intermittent stooping. Event planning and execution may require standing for extending periods, walking/biking, lifting up to 30 pounds, setting up and breaking down tables, tents, banners, other equipment.
Other Necessary Requirements
A valid NC driver's license is preferred for this position due to meetings, outreach, and event participation. However, ability to transport oneself efficiently locally and regionally without a driver’s license is acceptable.
The position offers exposure to local government transportation planning focused on bicycle, pedestrian, and transit, and oversight from transportation planning professionals. The successful candidate will have opportunity to work with planners from multiple disciplines, other Town departments, private sector firms, and members of the public.
- Support Town’s Safe Routes to School program – public outreach, event planning and execution, data collection, surveys/interviews, etc.
- Collect, analyze, present data in an engaging and user-friendly manner
- Prepare brief memos explaining methodology and findings
- Assist with public outreach, meetings, surveys, focus groups, etc.
- Conduct field work, including data collection, observations, traffic counts, walk audits, and project installation.
- Prepare presentations and other materials for public consumption
- Conduct research to assist staff, especially on peer city best practices that may lead to local policy, process, or infrastructure change
- Assist staff on larger projects of interest (ex: development ordinance rewrite, area plan development, capital project implementation, placemaking efforts)
- Support other transportation planning projects and initiatives as needed and as interested
- completed a BA/BS in Urban Planning, Transportation Planning, Public Policy, Geography or a related degree;
- be currently enrolled in a graduate planning program; or
- recently completed a graduate planning program.
This position is available May 2026 – August 2026, with the option of extending into the 2026-2027 academic year. The candidate is expected to work 40 hours a week over the summer and 10-15 during the academic year, with flexibility to work more or less depending on course load, breaks from school, holidays, etc.
The candidate may not work more than 950 hours in a rolling 12-month period.
Physical Demands
Work is generally performed while sitting or standing at a desk with intermittent stooping. Event planning and execution may require standing for extending periods, walking/biking, lifting up to 30 pounds, setting up and breaking down tables, tents, banners, other equipment.
Other Necessary Requirements
A valid NC driver's license is preferred for this position due to meetings, outreach, and event participation. However, ability to transport oneself efficiently locally and regionally without a driver’s license is acceptable.