Regional planning is a branch of planning that deals with the efficient placement of land-use activities, infrastructure, and settlement growth across a larger area of land than an individual city or town. These regions may cross administrative boundaries, encompassing multiple local jurisdictions.

Here's a breakdown of key aspects:

• Scale: Regional planning operates at a scale larger than a single city or town, often encompassing multiple jurisdictions (counties, municipalities, etc.).
• Focus: It focuses on coordinating land use, infrastructure, transportation, economic development, and environmental protection across the region.
• Goals: The goals typically include promoting sustainable development, economic competitiveness, social equity, and environmental quality within the region.
• Coordination: It requires collaboration and coordination among various stakeholders, including local governments, state agencies, private developers, and community groups.

A simple example of regional planning is planning a railway line that passes through many cities. Regional planning takes into account each city's needs and concerns and how the railway line can benefit all the cities along the route.

More information can be found on these sites:

• Wikipedia: Regional Planning
• American Planning Association: Regional Planning Division