What are the responsibilities and job description for the Planning Intern position at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority?
The Ideal Candidate:
We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Planning Intern to join our team. The ideal candidate will possess a curiosity and passion for urban planning, public transit, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and/or community engagement. The position offers opportunities to work alongside professional transportation planners on a variety of efforts that span the areas of transit service planning, land use and transportation planning, and bicycle/pedestrian planning. As a Planning Intern, you will gain hands-on experience in these fields and contribute to meaningful projects that equitably shape the future of our cities, the transportation network, and the communities they serve.
- Graduate student or third-/fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Urban Planning/Studies, Transportation and/or Land Use Planning, or a related field such as Environmental Studies/Science or, Geography
- Although the internship is comprehensive in nature involving work in three different planning fields, candidates do not need to have experience in all three areas to be considered.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and GIS software, and willingness to learn other relevant planning tools on the job.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently on assigned tasks with some supervision.
- Enthusiasm for engaging with VTA riders and the diverse communities VTA serves.
- Preferred, though not required for the intern to have a valid California driver’s license to conduct traffic counts and perform field observations.
Length of Internship:
(6) Six months - from April until September 2025.
Work Schedule:
Applicants must be able to commit to approximately 20 hours per week (maximum 29 hours per week) between the hours of Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Schedule is flexible.
About VTA:
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County’s authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused, innovative, and environmentally responsible transportation options promoting the region's vitality. VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services and participates as a funding partner in regional rail services, including Caltrain, Capital Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.
To learn more, go to: vta.org
- Catalog standard development review comments and compile a list/map key local projects and plans to support land use and development planning staff policies and efforts.
- Support bicycle / pedestrian / Complete Streets projects and plans, which may involve summarizing relevant planning documents, compiling, summarizing, or geocoding bike/pedestrian related data, conducting counts, or performing field observations.
- Support development of the annual (2026) transit service plan, which may involve creating maps or other visualizations and shadowing/assisting staff at community meetings and public events.
- Assist with taking meeting minutes/notes, gathering, and organizing/synthesizing community and stakeholder feedback.
Personal Attributes:
- Proactive, curious, and eager to learn.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Adaptable and flexible in a multi-disciplinary work environment.
- Committed to making a positive impact on our historically underserved communities.
- Student Intern positions are non-benefitted
- Undergraduates are currently paid $19.00/hourly
- Graduate students are currently paid $22.00/hourly
General Instructions:
Please read this entire job announcement before applying for the position. Print and keep a copy of this announcement so that you can refer to it. Questions not answered within this job announcement may be sent to personnel@vta.org.
To ensure consideration, completed applications must be submitted online to the Human Resources department by the stated closing time and date posted. When the stated closing date is “continuous,” apply immediately; the position may close without notice. You will receive an immediate email confirming receipt of your submitted application. If you do not receive this email, contact NEOGOV's Applicant Assistance Line at (855) 524-5627 between 8:00AM to 5:00PM (PST) Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Only on-line applications will be accepted for this recruitment (paper applications or resumes will not be accepted). Job Interest Notification Cards, or copies of previous, partial, or un-submitted applications, are not an acceptable substitute to a completed application.
ALL APPLICATION AND TESTING NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SENT BY E-MAIL. Applicants should select e-mail as the preferred method of notification. Candidates must maintain an up-to-date, valid and reliable e-mail address. Candidates are also responsible for maintaining up-to-date phone numbers and addresses on their on-line account. Due to the number of applications received, candidates must check their application status through their on-line account. Contact NeoGov for assistance if needed.
Information on how to apply for jobs at the VTA is available on the VTA Employment website and from the NEOGOV's Applicant Assistance Line (855) 524-5627. NeoGov Applicant support is available from 8:00AM to 5:00PM (PST) Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations:
The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you wish to request an accommodation, please click here.
Application Processing Information:
All related current and past work experience (including VTA experience) must be listed and fully described in the Work Experience section of the application ("See Resume" is not acceptable). Incomplete or improperly completed online applications may be rejected even if you are qualified for the position for which you are applying. It is your responsibility to ensure that the online application reflects the work experience and education needed to meet the requirements for the position you are applying for. Although your resume may have all your experience and education details, please make sure to complete each section of the online application to ensure that your information is accurately captured during our screening process.
Important: Proof of Education, either as a copy of a diploma or transcript, is required to verify all educational units listed on your application. Official transcripts are not necessary. Copies of diplomas, degrees, transcripts, or foreign transcript evaluations must be attached to the submitted application as a pdf.
Note: Failure to provide all of the required documents in the appropriate format (pdf ONLY), and properly labeled as shown in the example (for example: Smith_J BS Diploma), will result in the application being rejected as incomplete. No exceptions will be made.
Note: Applicants holding degrees or credentials from outside the United States who are using these qualifications exclusively to qualify for a position are required to provide a foreign transcript evaluation as a pdf and properly labeled as shown above. Failure to provide a foreign transcript evaluation will result in the application being rejected as incomplete. No exceptions will be made.
All applications are subject to review as to meeting minimum qualifications at any point in the recruitment process. Passing any step is no guarantee of continuation if it is determined that the applicant does not meet the minimum qualifications as stated in the class specification.
Candidates found to have exaggerated/falsified their qualifications, experience, training, and/or education may be disqualified at any point in the recruitment process and may be denied future employment with the VTA.
If selected for the position, candidates will be required to complete a criminal conviction disclosure form. Candidates who successfully become VTA employees, and fail to disclose any of the criminal background information as required may be subject to discipline up to and including discharge.
Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment. If you have questions related to an Eligible List you might be on or were on, you should contact Human Resources.
If you have questions regarding your status as an applicant for this position, please call the Human Resources Department at (408) 321-5575 or email at Personnel@vta.org.
VTA is an equal employment opportunity employer. VTA does not and will not tolerate discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, ancestry, color, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, national origin, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, medical condition, disabled veteran or veteran status, etc.
Salary : $19 - $22
