Planners Who Care About Cities
Urban Insight Group was founded in 2007 by two planners who believed that evidence, equity, and community partnership should be the cornerstones of every planning decision.
We Help Cities Make Better Decisions
Cities face unprecedented challenges: housing shortages, climate change, aging infrastructure, and widening inequality. The decisions planners make today will shape cities for generations.
We founded Urban Insight Group to bring a higher standard of rigor and care to those decisions. We are not a firm that produces plans for shelves. We build strategies that get implemented.
With offices in Boston and Portland, we work across North America on projects ranging from neighborhood plans to regional frameworks. Our team combines deep technical expertise with genuine respect for local context and community knowledge.
Our Values
Evidence First
Every recommendation we make is backed by rigorous analysis. We do not guess — we measure, model, and verify.
Community Centered
The people who live and work in a place know it best. We design processes that amplify community voice, not replace it.
Equity as Foundation
Equitable outcomes are not a nice-to-have. We embed equity analysis in every phase of our work.
Long-Term Thinking
Great plans endure. We build frameworks that adapt to change and serve communities for decades, not just election cycles.
The Team
Dr. Sarah Chen
Principal & Co-Founder
Former director of planning at the City of Boston with 20 years of experience in comprehensive planning, housing policy, and community engagement. PhD in Urban Planning from MIT.
Marcus Williams
Principal & Co-Founder
Transportation engineer turned planner, Marcus has led corridor studies, BRT feasibility analyses, and multimodal plans in 12 states. Previously with Arup.
Elena Vasquez
Director of Environmental Planning
Climate resilience specialist with deep expertise in coastal planning, green infrastructure, and climate vulnerability assessments. AICP certified.
James Park
Director of Data & Analytics
Geospatial analyst and data scientist who builds the custom tools and models that power our planning work. MS in Urban Informatics from NYU.
Amara Osei
Senior Urban Planner
Specializes in equitable community engagement and inclusive planning processes, with particular expertise reaching historically underrepresented groups.
Dr. Priya Mehta
Senior Transportation Planner
Transit planning expert with experience across bus rapid transit, light rail, and first/last mile connectivity. PhD in Civil Engineering from Stanford.
Awards & Certifications
APA National Planning Excellence Award, 2023
Smart Growth Award, EPA, 2022
AICP Certified Team
LEED AP Certified Principals