The Profession
Transport Planners play a key role in society – identifying how transport systems can be improved to stimulate and support economic growth. They take a lead in planning and designing for the movement needs of individuals and for the transport of goods, as well as managing transport demand to support economic and environmental efficiency.
Transport Planners work across all transport modes, co-operate with many different disciplines, and make use of the latest technology and behavioural thinking. They provide advice on how best to achieve local objectives, and ensure that projects are delivered efficiently and cost effectively. They present their case to stakeholders, the public, and Government, and at Public Inquiries and Examinations in Public.
The Transport Planning Society is committed to:
- the recognition of professional transport planners and the work that they do; and
- professional development.
We work with:
- transport planners to help ensure they have the breadth of vision and depth of knowledge they need; and
- employers to provide advice on staff development.
Central to both of these are the National Occupational Standards for Transport Planners, developed by the Society in conjunction with People 1st/ GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council, as well as employers and approved by QCA and other regulatory authorities in 2007.
These Standards form the basis for the TPS Professional Development Scheme for Transport Planners and the Transport Planning Professional, TPP, qualification.
The Standards, the Professional Development Scheme and the TPP qualification all recognise that transport planners are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, and that as well as having a high level of competence in transport planning techniques and a through knowledge of relevant policies, laws and regulations, they need to be:
- numerate;
- analytic;
- good managers of projects and people; and
- very good communicators – both orally and in writing.
For more on careers in transport planning, please click here.
For more on qualifications for transport planners, please click here.
For more on higher education – under- and post-graduate – please click here.
For more on the TPS Professional Development Scheme, please click here.
For the National Occupational Standards for Transport Planners, please click here and go to Transport Planning.
