Exam Bulletin - Principal Transportation Planner

CA High Speed Rail Authority

Exam Code: EX-2163

Examination Plans Included:

  • PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER: $10,934.00 - $12,415.00 per Month

View the PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2163

For PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02163

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104723 - PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER

Either 1

One year of experience in the California state service performing transportation or environmental planning duties in a class comparable in level of responsibility to Supervising Transportation Planner or Supervising Environmental Planner.

Or 2

Five years of supervisory or administrative transportation or environmental management experience with regional or statewide impact. (At least one year must have been comparable in level of responsibility to work performed by a Supervising Transportation Planner or a Supervising Environmental Planner in the California state service.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of experience equal to one year of education.)

Position Description

00104723 - PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER

This is the full administrative level. Under general direction, is responsible for all aspects of transportation and/or environmental planning activities within a Headquarters division or district; responsible for strategic planning, policy development, and implementation.

Desirable Qualifications

Awareness and sensitivity to social, economic, and environmental conditions which affect transportation planning; ability to delegate responsibility to others; ability to inspire the confidence of others; ability to further the recognition of the Department as a multimodal transportation organization.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. The planning process and general practices of transportation planning
  2. Research methods and techniques including conducting or participating in planning studies, and contemporary transportation, environmental, land use, social, economic, fiscal, legal, and political issues
  3. Effective public participation techniques
  4. The Department's mission, organization, policies, and procedures
  5. Federal and State laws and regulations
  6. Concepts and terminology relating to transportation planning
  7. Sources of funding transportation programs
  8. The Department's budgeting process
  9. The Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives
  10. Principles and techniques of selecting outside consultants
  11. Principles and techniques of effective supervision and personnel management
  12. A supervisor's role in safety, health, labor relations and the Department's Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet these program objectives
  13. Purposes, organization, and policies of Federal, State, regional, and local transportation agencies
  14. Program goals and objectives of the Department of Transportation
  15. Methods of planning, organizing, directing and controlling major statewide transportation or environmental programs
Ability to:
  1. Gather, compile, analyze, and interpret data
  2. Reason basically and creatively
  3. Develop formats to present and display data
  4. Use a variety of analytical techniques to propose solutions to or provide information regarding transportation problems
  5. Develop and evaluate alternatives
  6. Present ideas effectively orally and in writing
  7. Work effectively with others as an interdisciplinary team member
  8. Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted during the course of the work
  9. Conduct studies related to State transportation planning
  10. Analyze problems and develop appropriate solutions
  11. Recommend effective courses of action
  12. Evaluate general planning proposals
  13. Work independently on complex planning projects
  14. Organize and direct the work of a staff engaged in a variety of planning activities
  15. Evaluate and monitor the work of consultants
  16. Communicate effectively with other agencies, the public, and the media
  17. Effectively contribute to the Department's safety, health, labor relations, and Affirmative Action Program objectives
  18. Provide direction of the analysis of transportation and environmental planning studies
  19. Plan, direct, and coordinate the work of a large staff performing transportation and/or environmental planning and research
  20. Direct the evaluation of local plans in relation to statewide transportation interest and related environmental issues
  21. Direct and control large metropolitan regional transportation and environmental programs

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PRINCIPAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER Classification will be established for:

  • CA High Speed Rail Authority

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Principal Transportation Planner Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Overseeing or directing the development and delivery of capital projects or project proposals for a multimodal transportation system and making recommendations for new projects based on economic, population, climate, environmental, land-use, freight, or travel behavior projections.
  2. Overseeing or directing the preparation of technical documents (e.g., policy documents, research studies, briefing memos) to convey information to senior policy makers as well as stakeholders and/or publish findings.
  3. Overseeing or directing the analysis, both quantitative and qualitative, of transportation related plans, projects, and/or programs developed by others to evaluate consistency with current departmental and statewide plans, policies, and objectives.
  4. Communicating with stakeholders (e.g., departments, outside agencies, public, media, operators) on technical issues regarding relevant planning and/or technical operations requirements affecting planning decisions including making formal/informal written and/or oral communication presentations at public hearings, meetings, or inquiries.
  5. Planning, supervising, directing and overseeing the work activities of subordinate employees to ensure work meets quality and timeliness standards.
  6. Determining work priorities, scope of assignments, and establishing deadlines to ensure objectives are met effectively and in a timely manner.
  7. Shifting and managing priorities, staff, and resources to reflect administration and executive direction and to maximize the productivity and/or effectiveness of the organization.
  8. Delegating work to staff based on functional areas involved, workload levels, individual expertise, and operational needs to ensure completion of projects.
  9. Overseeing or directing the development of policies, procedures, and/or guidance to provide for the effective operation of the organization.
  10. Providing training, coaching, and/or mentoring to staff relating to the tasks of the job to improve succession planning, performance, and productivity.
  11. Preparing or overseeing the preparation of high-level documents (e.g., reports, summaries, memoranda, correspondence) containing recommendations and analyses for decision makers both inside and outside of the organization.
  12. Communicating with decision-makers both inside and outside of the organization regarding complex, difficult, and sensitive matters to ensure that all relevant information is provided.
  13. Monitoring State, regional, and/or local transportation planning processes to ensure multimodal connectivity and investments are addressed according to State and federal policies, laws, and regulations.
  14. Overseeing or directing transportation and/or environmental planning, analysis, and/or research programs in connection with environmental documents and/or statewide and regional plans to ensure consistency with statewide and organizational goals and objectives.
  15. Performing short, medium and/or long-term planning of program activities to ensure the goals and objectives of the organization are achieved.

Testing Departments

  • CA High Speed Rail Authority

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

CA High Speed Rail Authority
Human Resources
770 L Street, Suite 620, MS 4
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 669-6606

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

CA High Speed Rail Authority reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)