For the cultivation of traffic BIM talents satisfying social needs, the '1 + 1' teaching mode is proposed for the training of traffic BIM application ability, on the basis of the analysis of development trend of BIM technology in transportation industry and of current status of computer application courses in transportation specialty. In the proposed teaching mode, the whole teaching process is divided into four stages with interlinking and gradual transition. Through the teaching methods including CAD-BIM link-up teaching segment, the contrast teaching method, the project driven comprehensive practice, and etc., the students are able to quickly understand the advanced characteristics of the BIM technology compared with CAD, to master the basic skills of BIM technology, and to possess some practical abilities.