Zach Chappell, AICP
Isthmus Team Member Since: 2025
Professional Registration:
American Institute of Certified Planners
Education:
M.S. Urban and Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. Latin American Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Areas of Specialty:
Corridor and Non-Motorized Studies, Economic Analysis, Grant Writing, Active Transportation, Complete Streets, Equity Analysis in Transportation, GIS, Spanish Fluency
Zach is a seasoned transportation planner specializing in geospatial analysis, traffic safety, and multimodal planning. He leverages ArcGIS, Microsoft Excel, and transportation analytics platforms such as StreetLight to develop data-driven approaches that help agencies understand existing conditions, evaluate needs, engage residents, and build practical strategies. Zach is passionate about designing GIS-based solutions to evaluate safety, equity, and accessibility. He combines his technical experience with strong communication skills and multicultural fluency to deliver implementable and inclusive multimodal transportation plans. An adept writer, Zach integrates text, maps, and graphics to produce compelling and visually engaging materials such as grant applications, plans and technical reports, and presentations.
Zach fell in love with urban planning while living in Lima, Peru, and brings a multicultural perspective to his work. He believes that intentional, inclusive, and equity-centered planning can improve communities and create the conditions for residents to thrive.