Tom Wright

Leading metropolitan planner specialised in regional strategy, climate resilience, transportation reform, and equitable urban development

Tom Wright is President and CEO of the Regional Plan Association (RPA), the nation’s oldest independent metropolitan planning organization that develops and promotes ideas to improve the economic health, environmental resiliency, equity, and quality of life of the New York metropolitan area.

A visionary leader in urban planning, he spearheaded RPA’s Fourth Regional Plan (2017), driving transformative reforms in transportation, climate resilience, and affordable, livable communities. With 20+ years shaping the region—from post-9/11 downtown rebuilding to Hudson Yards—he is recognized for turning ambitious ideas into actionable strategies.

In 2020, he was appointed Chair of the New Jersey State Planning Commission. He holds a master’s in urban planning from Columbia and a bachelor’s from Princeton.