ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Professional transportation planner

Okay kiddo, a professional transportation planner is someone who helps make sure that people can get from one place to another in a safe and easy way.

Let's pretend that you have a big community that needs to move around a lot. Some people might walk or ride their bikes, while others might take a bus, train or drive a car. The transportation planner's job is to figure out the best way to make all of this happen without causing any traffic jams or accidents.

They use lots of different tools and methods to plan out the transportation system. One of the things they do is study maps to see where the roads and sidewalks are, and where people tend to go the most. They also look at data about how many cars are on the road and when, and how long it takes to get from one place to another.

Then, they come up with a plan to make everything work better. This plan might include building new roads or bus stops, adjusting when traffic lights change, or adding bike lanes.

Their job isn't just about the roads though. They also make sure that the public transportation is running smoothly and that there are affordable options available. They work with the government, businesses, and community groups to make sure everyone's needs are met.

So in a nutshell, transportation planners are like puzzle masters - they figure out how to make all the pieces fit together so that everyone can get around safely and easily.