Planning and Innovation Program Assistant

The following PART-TIME position posting will be open through Wednesday, October 7, 2026:

· Interviews will be granted to selected qualified candidates.

· Qualified candidates selected for an interview will be notified via email.

· Applicants who are not selected for an interview will receive notification they are no longer being considered.

The Planning Intern is a temporary, part-time position within the Planning & Innovation Division (P&I), providing hands-on support across a range of functions including data analysis, performance monitoring, planning and communications support, peer reviewing, and artificial intelligence (AI) research.

The role offers a currently enrolled student in transportation/urban/land use planning, GIS/ quantitative data analysis and visualization, communications, or other related field the opportunity to work in support of transit service plans, capital projects, and other programs as part of AAATA’s 2045 Long Range Plan (LRP). The LRP lays out a 20-year shared vision and strategy for public transportation services in the Ann Arbor – Ypsilanti area. The Planning Intern assists P&I staff on routine project tasks, data analysis, visualization, and documentation, and special projects as assigned by the Team Lead- Service Planning, Team Lead- Data & Scheduling, and Senior Project Manager.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

· Assistance with ridership/GIS/other data collection.

· Verification and cleaning (including video and other methods).

· Basic statistical/GIS/other analyses.

· Assistance in observing on-street operations.

· Documentation and classification of customer service issues,

· Tracking on-time performance, ridership, and other service metrics.

· Collaboration in providing analyses in support of short/medium-term service adjustment plans (including route, schedule, and boarding location adjustments in response to customer concerns).

· Collaboration in support of long-term/capital plans and projects (including but not limited to future facilities construction plans, bus rapid transit, and other projects).

· Assistance in preparation of internal and customer-facing communications materials (including maps/schedules, customer-facing online tools, and on-vehicle information systems).

· Support of P&I staff at stakeholder feedback/informational sessions.

· Research of industry best practices.

· Collection of data from agencies with characteristics similar to AAATA.

· Research of potential uses of AI tools and practices for planning and data related analyses in support of future development of a divisional and agency-wide set of AI usage policies.

· Frequent periods of sitting and use of hands/fingers

· Occasional periods of standing, walking, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and bending.

· Ability to lift, carry, push and/or pull up to 30 pounds.

Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Come work for TheRide! We are actively seeking a Planning and Innovation Program Assistant to help drive TheRide into the future! Apply today!