Walter Brooks

Greater New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

Mr. Brooks is the Executive Director of the Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes. He has been with the Commission since 1976 and holds degrees from Tulane and the University of New Orleans.

As the Metropolitan Planning Council, the RPC has been very active in the Post-Katrina re-building effort. Mr. Brooks is a member of the Louisiana Recovery Authority’s Infrastructure Task Force and was co-chair of the Land Use Committee of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission. He also serves on the city of New Orleans’ Parish Recovery Committee. RPC continues to provide technical assistance to federal (FEMA), state ((Louisiana Speaks), and local communities in the planning and recovery efforts. Mr. Brooks’ current activities have been directed to securing FHWA Emergency Relief funds for the restoration of transportation infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Prior to coming to the Commission, Mr. Brooks worked as a District Planner for the Boston Redevelopment Authority serving the neighborhoods of Charleston, South Boston and East Boston. Mr. Brooks directs RPC’s unified planning work program activities in transportation, infrastructure, economic development and environmental areas. His work involves extensive outreach and coordination with business, civic, and governmental entities at the local, state, and federal levels.

Mr. Brooks is active in the New Orleans community. He is a past member of the New Orleans Regional Business and Industrial Park Board, ex officio member of the Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce Board, and a member of the World Trade Center’s Intermodal Committee. He is a past Director of the Metro New Orleans Section of the American Planning Association; past President of the Louisiana Planning Council; and a former board member of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Public Works Association.