Economic and Freight Data Analyst

The freight planning and analysis unit evaluates the Department’s role in freight transportation and develops strategies to improve the knowledge and integration of freight transportation into the agency’s policy, planning, and investment processes. The freight transportation network consisting of the truck, rail, air and waterborne facilities provide the vital link between the state’s growers, processors, manufacturers and consumers. One goal of the unit is to provide for a more safe and efficient transportation system that enables Wisconsin businesses to be more productive and competitive in a regional and global economy.

This position has an intermodal freight and economic development focus related to the preparation of transportation plans and economic studies. This position plays an active role in the development and maintenance of economic and freight information for the agency’s multimodal plans. Common activities include analyzing and summarizing commodity flow data for all modes through data updates as they become available. Since a large segment of the freight transportation network is privately owned and operated, the analyst participates and serves on freight and economic development outreach committees, academic sponsored research projects and conducts surveys in order to obtain information for studies or research projects. This position also provides Geographic Information System (GIS) support to the Department’s Rustic Roads, Scenic Byways, and Transportation Economic Assistance programs.

This position is responsible for initiating and leading technical studies including the development of research methodologies, collecting data, conducting surveys and interviews, reporting results and formulating conclusions and recommendations. The analyst organizes meetings and provides technical information to departmental work groups, communities, businesses, region offices, and other state agencies. This position is responsible for reviewing specific plans and analyses required by federal or state legislative programs or policies or in response to a current transportation issue or problem.