Planning Intern

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 5, 2026

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE), a rapidly growing commuter rail operation connecting Washington, DC with Northern Virginia and surrounding counties, is recruiting a highly motivated college level Transportation Planning Intern to support the staff of the Planning and Environmental Policy department. The Transportation Planning Intern will work under the general supervision of the Planning Program Manager and will support the department by assisting with a variety of transportation planning, data analysis, public engagement, and data reporting functions. The position is based at VRE’s headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The typical work schedule is approximately 25 hours per week but may increase based on assignments and availability. The Transportation Planning Intern is generally expected to perform all services described herein in the VRE General Offices in Alexandria, VA.

Internship Focus

· Data collection and analysis of VRE service/operations, fare policy, financial policy and other data,

· Assist in responding to VRE data requests from internal and external parties, · Provide support for the System Plan 2050 annual update, VRE Station Area Land Use Study, and capital improvement program (CIP) projects, including attending internal and external meetings, preparation of materials for use in deliverables, and public engagement,

· Assist in the data collection and preparation of VRE’s National Transit Database (NTD) Monthly and Annual Reports, including the development and use of tools to streamline NTD annual reporting,

· Develop a familiarity with VRE operations and system, through site visits, system tours, shadowing, and participation in VRE agency-wide initiatives and events, and

· Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the required duties listed above, the candidate will also be afforded an opportunity to develop the scope of their own discrete project, addressing a specific VRE or industry data problem, or personal academic curiosity, subject to VRE concurrence. If allowed by the intern’s current educational institution, this task may also involve the preparation of a term paper, thesis, capstone, or research project aimed at satisfying a current or future educational program requirement. The candidate will present a summary of their work to their supervisor and a panel of VRE staff upon completion.

Internship Duration

It is VRE’s expectation that this internship will run through the fall 2026 with the potential to extend the intern position beyond that timeframe contingent on budget availability and at VRE’s sole discretion

Eligibility and Requirements

· Current enrollment in an associate, bachelor’s or graduate degree program in urban planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), public policy, or a related field; or new graduate accepted for enrollment in post-graduate studies (urban or transportation planning preferred) for the fall 2026 semester.

· General knowledge of principles of land use, transit, and urban planning

· Skill in the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software preferred

· Skill in the use of Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access for communication and analysis

· Skill in the use of graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop preferred

· Skill in communicating both orally and in writing, with a desire to build on and improve communications and presentation skills

· Strong interest in transit and transportation planning

· Limited local reimbursable travel within the Washington, D.C./Fredericksburg regions including possible travel to evening or weekend meetings

Compensation and Benefits

The Planning Intern offers a competitive hourly wage at $20 - $28/hr. depending on education (i.e., undergraduate or graduate) and experience. VRE offers free parking, transportation on our trains, or transit benefits up to $325 per month.

For more information about VRE or to apply for this exciting developmental opportunity online, visit the Virginia Railway Express External Career Center. In addition to completing the online application, you must also include a cover letter, resume, and list of three confidential references (to include address, phone, and email address). 

VRE is an Equal Opportunity Employer