To paraphrase a famous cop and lawyer show: In the local government planning system, there are two separate but equally important groups – those who specialize in land use, and those who focus on transportation.

The Atlanta Regional Commission recently brought these planners together for a half-day workshop, recognizing that land use and transportation are inextricably linked. That is, a community’s transportation infrastructure directly influences the built environment, and vice versa.

More than 70 people attended the workshop, titled “Bridging for the Future,” including members of ARC’s Land Use Coordinating Committee and Transportation Coordinating Committee, who participated as part of ARC’s first-ever joint LUCC and Transportation Forum.

Through interactive exercises, they discussed challenges and opportunities that cross subject matter expertise and jurisdictional lines. The feedback will inform the development of the next Regional Development Plan, which is named “Growing Together for 2050: MetroATL Development Strategy.”

The workshop attendees, representing cities and counties from across the region, were divided into eight groups, each sitting around a large table. They discussed the challenges facing their communities, such as housing affordability, population growth, and traffic. In all, they identified 165 issues and insights that will inform the Regional Development Plan.

One table talked about the challenge of dealing with pass-through traffic on a main thoroughfare when residents are asking for “road diets” that help slow traffic and add sidewalks and bike lanes. They asked: Who are we designing for, our residents or those traveling through?

Another table discussed the challenge of accommodating younger people who may want to rent a home and existing residents who fear an increase in renters will change the nature of their community.

Margie Pozin, Director of Community Development & Engineering at City of Duluth, said she liked bringing the diverse group together.

“We have so much in common. We can learn from each other,” she said.

Eva Chauveau, a planner in DeKalb County, said she enjoyed learning about issues that other communities are wrestling with.

“There were a lot of surprising topics that arose, like the challenges of truck parking, and the need to protect rural areas – to allow for smart growth, rather than just growth,” she said.