Tom WrightPresident
Planning the New York Metropolitan Region
Since 1922, RPA has prepared long range plans for the tri-state metropolitan region.
The Tri-State Region and Its Environs:
3 states31 counties782 towns & cities23 million residents
First Regional Plan1929 1968 1996
Second Regional Plan Third Regional Plan
The First Regional Plan (1929)
The Second Regional Plan (1969)
The Third Regional Plan (1996)
DiagnosisThe tri-state region has made enormous stridesOpportunities are limited for too many peopleThere is a rising crisis of affordability for many peopleThe suburbs are falling behindThe region is increasingly vulnerable to natural disastersOur government institutions are failing to make the hard decisions our region needs
VisionDiagnosis
2015 Jobs: 11.6 M2015 Population: 22.9 M
Problem StatementsVisionDiagnosis
13%
87%
87%
13%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1975-2005
2005-2015
New York City Rest of Region
Percentage of Net New Jobs
Complete reversal of postwar growth patterns
Complete reversal of postwar growth patternsJob gains have been concentrated in low-wage industries, with the exception of professional services
Travel patterns are changing
Increase in NYC-bound commuters1990-2010Increase in NYC-bound commuters (1990-2010)
Increase in NYC-bound commuters1990-2010Increase in NYC-bound commuters (2010-2015)
Projected increase in NYC-bound commuters (2015-2040)
Fix the institutions that are failing us
Reform our regional transportation authorities and reduce the costs of building new transit projects
Put a price on driving, through congestion pricing, tolling and eventually VMT fees
Price GHG emissions using California’s comprehensive approach
Establish a Regional Coastal Commission and state adaptation funds
Increase civic engagement and make planning and development more inclusive, predictable and efficient
Manage Congestion and Generate Revenue
Through Pricing
1. Charge drivers to enter the Manhattan CBD
2. Add tolls to major roads and highways across the region
3. Charge drivers for the number of miles they drive
Rise to the challenge of climate change
Protect places where the densities justify it; transition away from lower-density places or places at particularly high risk
Establish a National Park in the Meadowlands
Create a modern, smarter, greener energy grid
The Meadowlands 2017
Transform the Meadowlands into a National Park
Make the region affordable for everyone
Create a million additional new homes (beyond base case) mostly in transit-accessible locations, and across a range of price points
Create well-paying job opportunities throughout the region
Turn environmentally burdened neighborhoods into healthy communities
We can create an additional 250,000 homes by redeveloping parking lots near rail stations.
We can create an additional 250,000 homes by redeveloping parking lots near rail stations.
Totally reconstruct and modernize the subway within 15 years
Expand Trans-Hudson capacity and expand regional connectivity with a unified, integrated, expanded regional rail
Design streets for people & open up more public space in the urban core
Expand and redesign Kennedy and Newark airports to increase capacity
Create a dynamic, customer-oriented transportation system
Expanded system comfortably serves 1 million more people by 2040
The Graphic Plan, 2017