Engage, not enrage: launching the Wasatch transportation academy

Planning academies are valuable for increasing citizen involvement and engagement in local planning. Providing participants with the knowledge and capacity to engage with decision makers in local planning builds citizens capacity to influence the outcome of the planning process. This approach to community engagement and a more harmonious relationship between citizens and planning staff requires significant preparation and understanding of local communities, their leaders, and their needs. A growing body of knowledge and interest exists in how these citizen focused offerings can benefit citizens and planning authorities.