MBTA Policy and Strategic Planning Internship

Summary

As an intern on the Policy & Strategic Planning team, you will be part of a team that develops new policy for the MBTA while also planning for the organization’s needs for the future. Depending on skills and interests, an intern would have an opportunity to work with all four business units within the Policy and Strategic Planning team. These include:

• The Transit Policy team: creates and maintains a set of rider-centered policies and guidelines for decision making that are grounded in fairness and inclusive of our diverse ridership, that are clear and easy to understand, and that are the product of a visible and transparent process.
• The Strategic Transit Planning team: creates, implements, and communicates decision making frameworks informed by our values, that inform the service we provide and help us to achieve our mission, vision, and values.
• The Fare Policy team: creates and revises fare policy to increase riders and ridership, address affordability and equity, provide sustainable revenue for the MBTA, and make the system more approachable.
• Capital Program Planning team: manages the development, implementation, and analysis of the MBTA‘s five-year Capital Investment Plan. We collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to assess our capital needs and build a program that advances the

Authority’s goals.

As an intern, you will receive guidance and mentorship from department leaders. The work may include researching and developing new rider-focused policies, supporting the implementation of the MBTA’s strategic plan, supporting the development of long-term plans, and analyzing fare policies and products, including policy and operational decisions in preparation for a new, modernized fare payment system – AFC 2.0. This position engages with internal and external stakeholders to make tangible, positive impacts on riders.

Responsibilities

With guidance from senior team members, this position may be responsible for the following tasks:

•  Assist MBTA staff to conduct due diligence on potential policy changes, including participating in discussions with peer agencies, reviewing published research and engaging internal stakeholders.
• Assist MBTA staff to prepare presentations for decision-makers and the public related to planning initiatives and recommended policy changes.
• Support MBTA staff with research and analysis to inform strategic planning and transit planning initiatives.
• Determine appropriate data inputs, clean and prepare data sets, and use data to create models which will support policy and operational decision making.
• Assist MBTA staff to effectively communicate insights and questions raised as the result of policy and data analysis to both internal and external stakeholders.

We’d love to hear from you if…

You have an interest in public service, transit, or transportation and how it operates.

• You are a current graduate student. Students in public policy, public administration, business administration, urban planning, urban studies, public health, law, or a related fields are encouraged to apply.
• You have some experience with planning, policy analysis, and/or complex data analysis (e.g. some coursework, on-the-job experience, or other experiences).
• You have experience working responsibly with sensitive items, systems, or data.
• You want to learn about or deepen your experience translating and framing complex data into clear choices and impacts.
• You are highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.

Compensation range (graduate students): $24 – $26 per hour (depending on experience)

Interested applicants can send a resume and cover letter to Christina Branham at cbranham@mbta.com.