Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for the interpretation of policies and procedures which govern the geometric design, capacity analysis, and access control limits of highways. Specifically, these items are directly related to the design of intersections, interchanges, rest areas, weigh stations and highway alignments. This position is also responsible for the development of the district’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, serves as the district’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator and supervises the permit section.

This position reports to the Studies and Plans Engineer. Reporting to this position is the Assistant Geometrics Engineer, the Permit Section Chief and up to 3 seasonal employees on winter assignments.
This position is accountable for the development of intersection geometrics that conform to state policy and for recommending to the central office any design exceptions to policy. The incumbent is required to create designs which are cost-effective and often unique, using sound principles of value engineering. The incumbent determines if central office concurrence of geometrics is required prior to inclusion in a prehearing design report for presentation to the public at an informational meeting and/or public hearing. The incumbent approves those designs, which are developed in accordance with policy. This position is also responsible for the review and/or approval of private and/or commercial development plans to ensure that acceptable levels of operation and safety potentials are maintained on state and/or local systems.
Typical problems include the continuing evaluation of new and innovative policies/procedures, the resolution of implementation problems, the interpretation of policies and/or procedures, and the resolution of problems associated with proposed designs by district bureaus, county and/or municipal governments and consultants. The greatest challenge to this position is the application of technical knowledge coupled with keen insight to develop geometric configurations which create cost effective and safe highway improvements with minimal adverse social and environmental impacts.

This position is accountable for developing geometric highway designs, analyzing traffic volumes, proposing access control limits, determining pavement, shoulder, median and right-of-way widths, designing horizontal and vertical alignments, deciding earth slopes, design speeds, sight distance, super-elevation, and performing capacity analysis for intersections and interchanges. The incumbent provides advice and guidance to consultants, county and/or municipal engineers during their preparation of geometric designs, capacity analysis, cross-section, alignment and slope designs. This position reviews and concurs with geometric designs prepared by other district bureaus, consultants, counties, and municipalities including those prepared after construction contracts have been awarded. The incumbent approves those designs which conform to policy. Those that do not conform to policy are approved by the central office.

Job Responsibilities (continued)

Functions performed by this position are highly innovative and have specific objectives of fiscal restraints, cost-effectiveness and safety. This position establishes procedures for the development of feasible alternative improvements and evaluation techniques for the priority selection of such alternate types in terms of cost and safety effectiveness and mitigation of impact. The incumbent reviews and/or recommends appropriate accident countermeasures for safety projects to the safety committee for inclusion in the annual program. The incumbent must maintain an up-to-date knowledge of appropriate state, federal, and local policies and evaluates pertinent research with a view toward improving current practices. The incumbent develops procedures for the implementation of cited policies and cost-effective analysis of resulting improvements. This position maintains all pertinent policy and procedural information regarding geometric design. This position supervises the permit section and provides detailed reviews, policy guidance and direction to the section when needed. This position serves as the district’s Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Coordinator. This involves ensuring plans for pedestrian facilities comply with ADA requirements, responding to questions about ADA compliance, evaluating existing facilities for ADA compliance and other related duties.
The incumbent accomplishes accountabilities through the Assistant Geometrics Engineer who is accountable for interpreting policies and procedures governing geometric design, capacity and access control of highways for the design of intersections, interchanges, rest areas, and weigh stations. The incumbent designs, reviews, and prepares intersection designs for approval. The incumbent also accomplishes accountabilities through the Permit Section Chief who is accountable for the issuance of various permits.
The incumbent exercises considerable latitude in performing the duties of this position. Decisions are based on state and federal policies and experience which incorporates innovation, field observations, educational seminars and current literature. Certification by the central Bureau of Design and Environment allows this position to approve, without central office concurrence, intersection design studies which are not design exceptions to policy. The incumbent recommends, for approval to the section chief, design solutions for resolving conflicting situations and highly technical problems dealing with interchange and intersection designs.
Internal contacts include the district Local Roads and Streets section, the Bureau Chiefs of Program Development, Operations, and the central Bureau of Design and Environment. External contacts include consultants, local governmental entities and the public. This position may require occasional statewide travel with overnight stays.
The effectiveness of this position is measured according to the accurate and timely completion of assigned tasks. In addition, it can be measured by the increase in the safety and mobility afforded the motoring public by the effective use of available funds with the least adverse social and environmental consequences.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Develops geometric designs and determines if central office review of geometrics is required prior to a public hearing or informational meeting.
2. Reviews and concurs with geometric designs on state highways which have been prepared by consultants, counties, municipalities, and other district bureaus. Approves policy consistent designs.
3. Reviews and/or prepares safety projects prior to submission to safety committee for inclusion in the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
4. Reviews and accepts geometric revisions prepared after construction contracts have been awarded.
5. Trains, motivates, and evaluates staff.
6. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois.
• Five years of experience in civil engineering.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Occasional statewide travel with overnight stays.
• Ability to successfully pass a background check.

Position Desirables

• Supervisory experience in civil engineering including supervising in relationship to highway engineering.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering.
• Knowledge in design of highways, streets and structures and in making complete engineering plans and specifications.
• Ability to perform difficult technical research and make comprehensive recommendations on engineering problems.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.