Careers Finding a Job Transportation Planning Cover Letter Example and Writing Tips Print csfotoimages/Getty Images Finding a Job Job Searching Cover Letters Skills & Keywords Resumes Salary & Benefits Letters & Emails Job Listings Job Interviews Career Advice Best Jobs Work-From-Home Jobs Internships By Alison Doyle Updated on 01/29/22 Transportation planners design and improve transportation systems and routes, focusing on efficiency, environmental impact, and budgetary concerns. This essential city planning role plays a key part in infrastructure development. To excel in this job, you need top-notch communication and analytical skills, as well as a background in logistics. When writing a cover letter for an application for a transportation planning job, it’s important to emphasize your command of the hard and soft skills that are listed in the job advertisement. Be sure to provide specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated them in your career. Including examples of your direct involvement in projects, along with the hard numbers that demonstrate your achievements, provides the hiring manager with insight into your work ethic and the impact you'll make in their business. Incorporate the Job Qualifications into Your Letter If the job announcement emphasizes other buzzwords in its “Preferred Qualifications” section, try to incorporate these into your cover letter as well. Industry-specific buzzwords for transportation planners include phrases such as: “transportation management,” “project management,” “transit passenger facilities,” “bus stop management,” “interagency planning,” “data analysis,” “public administration,” “environmental planning,” “land use planning,” “manages complexity,” and “ensures accountability.” Transportation Planning Cover Letter Example Below is an example of a cover letter for a transportation planning job. Use this cover letter sample as a guide when writing your own but remember to be sure that the details fit your situation and target the specific position for which you are applying. John Smith30 Chestnut St, Apt 4Ann Arbor, MI 48103(734) 555-3243John.Smith@email.comLinkedIn.com/JohnSmithJune 10, 2022Dear Hiring Manager:Your need for a Washington State Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning Specialist has come to my attention, thanks to your recent announcement on Glassdoor. I provide strong leadership, research, and attention to detail. My ability to work well with others, my environmental science degree training, and my extensive professional background in bicycle and alternative transportation planning make for a strong foundation for this position.My experience includes 11 years of serving on the Ann Arbor Bicycle Coordinating Committee (AABCC) and the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition (WBWC), and I am an American Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) member.In my current transportation planning role in Ann Arbor, I attend all planning meetings for major infrastructure projects in the City, neighborhoods, and with business associations in order to provide critique and recommendations. My particular emphasis is in addressing bicycle-pedestrian safety and legal concerns, proactively looking for ways to avoid potential future issues.I also strongly champion Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and advocacy.Other of my competencies and accomplishments include:Demonstrated accuracy in analyzing traffic counts and performing site evaluationsWell-versed in producing Bicycle/ Alt Program literature, maps, resolutions, and correspondences to engage stakeholder and community interest in new transportation optionsSuccess in getting a minimum five percent (5%) of ACT-51 funding to be appointed to non-motorized transportation in the Ann Arbor area into perpetuityStrengthened bicycle-alternative transportation program with increased bicycle and pedestrian facilities, education, and awareness.As a commuting bicyclist logging about 3,000 miles each year since the 1980s and as a regular bus system user and pedestrian, I am able to analyze the function of the alternative transportation system and its needs through daily use.I look forward to interviewing with your department. Please contact me should you desire any further information before then. Thank you, in advance, for your time and consideration.Very Sincerely,Signature (hard copy letter)John Smith Emailing Your Cover Letter If you're sending a cover letter via email, list your name and the job title in the subject line of the email message. Include your contact information in your email signature, but don't list the employer contact information. Start your email message with an appropriate salutation. It’s best to address your letter to a specific person (their name should be stated in the job announcement, but if not, you may be able to find it by calling the company or reviewing their website). When in doubt, it’s acceptable to use “Dear Hiring Manager,” or “To whom it may concern.” Use simple formatting, without fancy fonts or HTML (which may become garbled if the recipient uses a different email client than you do). Double-check your letter for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, and then send yourself a test message to ensure the formatting is clean before sending it off to an employer.