Bart Roberts is an AICP-certified urban planner who specializes in bringing together research and practice to advance projects related to sustainability, community/economic development, and public participation. In his role as interim director at UB Regional Institute (UBRI) Bart leads a team working to build knowledge, capacity, and collaboration to support a more vibrant and equitable Buffalo Niagara region.

Since joining UBRI in 2009, Bart has overseen much of the institute’s work related to community engagement and sustainable development. In 2011, Bart led the effort to secure a $2 million grant from the Federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities to launch One Region Forward, a regional planning effort to build tools and strategies for advancing sustainable development across Erie and Niagara counties. UBRI’s commitment to the initiative continues through technical assistance programs funded by NYSERDA and US DEC and most recently a regional planning grant from the US EPA to conduct regional planning under the banner of One Region for Climate Action.

Additional projects Bart has led for UBRI include: designing and leading the process for Imagine LaSalle, the community engagement process guiding the transformation of the former LaSalle Park into the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park on Buffalo’s lower west side; overseeing planning and community engagement support for Rain Check—Buffalo Sewer Authority’s green infrastructure program; directing research for the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity’s foundational study The Racial Equity Dividend: Buffalo’s Great Opportunity; overseeing the planning process for Tonawanda Tomorrow, a federally-funded economic development program preparing the Town in wake of the NRG Huntley coal-powered plant closure; and managing the public engagement for Niagara Street Now, the City of Buffalo’s streetscape and green infrastructure transformation of a 3-mile long corridor that runs parallel to the Niagara River.

Beyond Bart’s project-based work at UBRI, he connects School of Architecture and Planning students, faculty, and staff with practitioners and community initiatives in the Buffalo Niagara region.

Prior to joining UBRI, Bart served as the lead analyst for the management accountability program CitiStat Buffalo, where he oversaw the development and analysis of performance metrics for services delivered by the City of Buffalo. Bart holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Vassar College, and a master’s in urban planning from the University at Buffalo, where he received the Dean’s Certificate and Best Professional Project Award from the department.

A born and bred Buffalonian, Bart lives in Buffalo’s Parkside neighborhood with his wife Kristin and two sons Griffin and Brady. When not working on perfecting his backyard ice rink, Bart enjoys playing soccer and ice hockey, tailgating in Orchard Park, and relaxing on the beaches of Southern Ontario.

• Master’s in Urban Planning, University at Buffalo
• Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies, Vassar College

• Honorable Mention for Public Outreach (2017)
  Western NY Section of the American Planning Association (APA) for Niagara Street Now
• National Planning Achievement Award for Public Outreach (2016)
  National American Planning Association (APA) for One Region Forward
• Sustaining Places Award (2015)
  Western NY Section of the American Planning Association (APA) For One Region Forward