Transportation Career Outlook

According to the American Public Transportation Association, public transit ridership in light rail and commuter rail has increased within the past year (2017).¹ Americans are seeking out more sustainable ways to navigate their communities and inspire smart growth transportation strategies. EcoLeaders with their eyes on careers like urban planning, civil engineering, and transportation design – look no further.

Transportation produces about 29% of greenhouse gas in the United States.² More and more Americans are discovering the benefits of public transit: buses, subways, streetcars, trolleys, light rail and ferries. Compared to emissions per passenger mile than an average single-occupancy vehicle, heavy rail transit (subways and metros) emit about 76% less greenhouse gas emissions, light rail systems produce 62% less, and bus transit produces 33% less.³ More sustainable methods of travel significantly reduce airborne pollution that carries significant risks to human health, wildlife and the environment.

In addition to the environmental benefits, public transit development also has tremendous positive social impact. It revitalizes business districts, increases property value, allows employers to access better job opportunities, reduces traffic congestion, lessens dependence on foreign oil, and provides people with options and an overall better quality of life.⁴ To learn more about the specific benefits of public transportation, check out the American Public Transportation Association’s collection of reports.

Sizing Public Transit Jobs in the Clean Economy:

According to a 2011 study conducted by the Brookings Institute, the second largest sector of the clean economy is public mass transit, which employed 350,547 workers in the U.S.⁵ A nationwide school bus operator is the largest single employer in public transportation followed by Amtrak and operators of Northeast railways like the Long Island Railroad and Washington, DC metropolitan. Industries with the highest level of employment in mass transit (bus drivers, transit and intercity) are local government, urban transit systems, and charter buses.⁶ Most jobs currently held in this sector are associated with transporting passengers or goods –maybe not the ideal job for all young conservation leaders-- but keep in mind that careers generated when investing in public transportation have a vast range of intersections with green jobs.

Here are some additional options to consider:
 

Salaries for Mass Public Transit Jobs:

Generally, public mass transportation is considered a middle-wage occupation with the median annual income of $41,780.⁷ The higher paying jobs in public mass transportation exist in these industries: state government, local government, and spectator sports in which annual salaries range from $32,110- $65,920.⁸ Also, keep in mind the region of employment, which could play a significant role in compensation. For example, bus drivers in San Jose, Chicago, and New York City can bring in over $55,000 annually while the average bus driver makes closer to $38,920.⁹ A Transportation Engineer can earn between $64,000 and $96,000 annually and Industrial Designers earns a median salary of about $63,000, depending on their level of education.

Required Education and Certifications:

Although some careers are suited to graduates with an associate’s degree, others require a master’s degree. When getting started, consider a bachelor’s degree in transportation, business administration, logistics, engineering, environmental design, or economics – to name a few academic pathways. Also, consider combining bachelor’s degree programs with internships to gain hands-on-experience. Basic professional skills in communication, research, leadership, and project management are always a plus and can be developed and cultivated right here within the NWF EcoLeaders community!

Examples of Certification Programs in Transportation

• U.S. Department of Transportation | Transit Safety and Security Program
• Community Transportation Association of America | Certified Transit Program Administrator

Examples of Academic Programs in Transportation

• Lewis University | Transportation Administration (B.S.)
• University of Virginia | Urban and Environmental Planning (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
• University of Texas at Austin | Graduate Transportation Engineering Program 
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Supply Chain Management & Logistics (M.S.)
• Illinois Institute of Technology | Transportation Engineering (M.S.)
• University of Denver | Intermodal Transportation Management (M.S.)
• San Jose State University | Transportation Management (M.S.)
• North Carolina A&T State University | Transportation and Supply Chain Management (M.S.)
• University of California - Davis  | Transportation Technology and Policy (M.S., Ph.D.)
• Syracuse University | Transportation and Distribution (M.S., Ph.D.)
• North Dakota State University | Transportation and Logistics (Ph.D.)

 

Public Mass Transit Project Examples from the NWF Sustainability Database:

Sustainable Transportation EcoTopic Page - Start here to find lots of resources for you to start and share your own Campus or Community Outdoor Transportation EcoProject in the EcoLeaders community! Or find inspiration from the following projects that other EcoLeaders have done:

• Ball State University – Indiana shuttled over 19,000 students around BSU’s campus on hybrid-electric bus.
• Howard University – Washington, DC students and community members learned to fix bicycles and then offered repair services to the greater community.
• University of Colorado at Boulder – Colorado students constructed bike stations using green building products and PV technology.
• Middlebury College – Vermont students leased electric vehicles from a Vermont-based public-private partnership of groups dedicated to the demonstration of alternative vehicles. This allowed the campus to try a new green technology at low risk.
• University of California, Los Angeles – California encouraged students to "Take a Vacation from the Pump" as a promotion designed to get UCLA commuters who drive solo to try transit for an entire summer, risk free.
   

RESOURCES:

1. “Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2017.” American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
2. “Transit’s Role in Environmental Sustainability.” Federal Transit Administration. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
3. Ibid.
4. “Benefits of Public Transportation.” American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
5. “Sizing the Clean Economy.” Brooking Institute. Retrieved on April 25, 2015.
6. Ibid.
7. “Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
8. Ibid.
9. “How much do bus drivers make?" U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved August 31, 2017.

By: Crystal Grant Jennings, NWF 2015 and Christina Lopez NWF Fellow 2017