Dr. Jon D. Fricker Memorial Transit Internship

Description

The Dr. Jon D. Fricker Memorial Transit Internship offers a unique opportunity for students to actively contribute to the improvement of public transit services within the Greater Lafayette community. Interns will work within the Customer Experience Department, responsible for CityBus service planning and development. Interns will focus on assessing current services and developing innovative and efficient improvements for the future. This internship not only provides valuable professional experience but also pays tribute to the legacy of Dr. Fricker.

Dr. Jon D. Fricker, former professor of civil engineering at Purdue University, was a member of the Greater Lafayette Transportation Corporation (dba CityBus) board of directors for 32 years. He was appointed by the West Lafayette City Council in 1990 and proudly served until his retirement in 2022.

During his tenure, CityBus benefited greatly from Dr. Fricker’s expertise in urban planning, bicycle and pedestrian transportation, and public transit. Many of his research projects and love of data collection helped inform CityBus initiatives over the years.

While on the board, Dr. Fricker played a role in a wide range of advances at CityBus.  Highlights from his tenure include:

• Adoption of the operating name “CityBus” in 1994
• Unlimited access rides for Purdue University students, faculty, and staff in 1998
• GPS tracking on buses and automatic people counters in 2001
• New maintenance facility and cameras on the buses in 2003
• Addition of hybrid buses in 2006
• Wind turbines added to the administrative offices/shop facility in 2011
• Expansion of garage space so all buses could be stored indoors in 2012
• Opening of CityBus Center and addition of mobile phone app in 2013
• Addition of compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station and buses in 2015
• Service to IU Health Arnett Hospital in 2016
• Added pedestrian detecting collision avoidance systems on buses in 2018
• Awarded the Public Transit Clean Air Champion by Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition in 2019
• Launched Flex, a demand response microtransit service, in 2021
• Expansion of the CNG fuel station in 2022

Additionally, CityBus ridership during Dr. Fricker’s tenure grew exponentially from 1.7 million in 1998 to a high of 5.5 million in 2013. CityBus is incredibly proud of all that Dr. Fricker accomplished to help ensure we provide outstanding service to the Greater Lafayette community.

Interns will be assigned various projects and tasks related to the following areas of work:

Service Assessment – Interns will conduct comprehensive evaluations of current public transit services. This includes analyzing route efficiency, service accessibility, customer satisfaction surveys, and performance metrics.

Data Analysis – Utilize data analysis tools and techniques to gather insights from various data sources, helping to identify areas for improvement and making data-driven recommendations.

Customer Engagement – Collaborate with the Customer Experience Department to engage with passengers, gather feedback, and address customer concerns, ensuring that their voices are heard.

Innovation and Efficiency – Propose innovative solutions and efficiency improvements that align with the agency's goals of enhancing the public transit experience, reducing environmental impact, and improving overall service quality.

Project Management – Interns may be involved in project management tasks, which could include coordinating with various teams, tracking project progress, and ensuring the successful implementation of recommended improvements.

Presentations and Reporting – Interns will have the opportunity to communicate their findings and recommendations through presentations and reports to the agency's leadership and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Currently enrolled in as a full-time student at a four-year accredited university or graduated within the last six months.

Currently enrolled in a relevant degree program (e.g., civil engineering, transportation planning, urban planning, public administration, business administration, business analytics and information management, or a related field) or graduated from the same in the last six months.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently when needed.

Passion for public transit and a commitment to improving the customer experience.

Overall, this internship provides an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to public transit services within the Greater Lafayette community while honoring the memory of Dr. Jon D. Fricker. It allows interns to gain hands-on experience in an essential field that plays a crucial role in the well-being of communities and the environment.

Salary : $20