BUFFALO, NY – Highland Planning, a leading public engagement, planning, and design studio in New York, received dual recognition of two prestigious awards from the Western New York Chapter of the American Planning Association (WNY APA) at their Annual Awards Event on May 14, 2025, in Buffalo.
The awards highlight Highland Planning’s expertise in community engagement, comprehensive planning, and transportation planning, with honors in the Comprehensive Planning category for the City of Olean, NY Comprehensive Plan and the Public Outreach category for the innovative NFTA Bailey Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Project in Buffalo, NY.
Award-Winning Comprehensive Planning in Olean, NY
The City of Olean Comprehensive Development Plan, adopted in January 2025, is a testament to Highland Planning’s strategic and comprehensive approach to addressing small city challenges, including population retention, infrastructure improvement, and economic development.
Working in partnership with C&S Companies, Highland Planning implemented a multi-faceted community engagement strategy that reached diverse populations across the City, with particular success in engaging youth through an innovative high school outreach program that captured input from over 150 students.
Key highlights of the Olean Comprehensive Plan include:
- Data-driven housing strategy addressing affordability and neighborhood revitalization
- Implementation-focused recommendations leading to immediate grant funding success
- Strategic infrastructure investments prioritizing quality-of-life improvements
- Youth engagement techniques that brought new voices to the planning process
The plan has already demonstrated measurable results, helping the city secure funding for an inclusive playground at Marcus Park, reopening the City’s public pool, and updating zoning regulations to support community priorities.
Equity-Focused Transportation Planning in Buffalo
The NFTA Bailey Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project represents Highland Planning’s commitment to equitable transportation planning and inclusive community engagement. Working with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) and Creighton Manning Engineering, the team developed a comprehensive Equity and Inclusion Plan that ensures transportation investments benefit underserved communities.
Highland Planning’s engagement approach for this transformative transit project, to date, including:
- Targeted outreach in areas of persistent poverty along the corridor
- Community ambassador program employing local residents
- 20+ pop-up events at neighborhood gathering places
- 8 community meetings with multilingual support
- 5 focused stakeholder sessions with key community organizations
- Online survey capturing over 500 responses from corridor residents.
The engagement results directly shaped the BRT design, with community members requesting station amenities, including weather protection, lighting, and heating. The project addresses critical needs in neighborhoods where 86% of current transit riders report household incomes below $35,000 and 71% lack access to personal vehicles.
Learn More: For more information on Highland Planning’s community engagement services, planning expertise, or award-winning projects, we invite you contact us at admin@highland-planning.com or call 585-504-1672.
