The Northeast Megaregion in a National Infrastructure Plan

Petra TodorovichDirector, America 2050

Multi-State, Multi-Regional Solutions: Transportation, Land Use and the Environment

November 6, 2008

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Key National and Global Trends

Energy security and global climate change

Rapid population growth and demographic change

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Globalization and rising foreign trade

Crumbling infrastructure

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Changing spatial development patterns

Growing inequities and poverty

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Uneven Growth PatternsPopulation Change 2000 - 2050

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Emerging Megaregions

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Why Megaregions?

1. Challenges occur at scale greater than metropolitan region

2. Compete with global integration zones

3. Foster larger industry clusters and deeper labor markets

4. Act as building blocks to a national infrastructure plan

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A Tradition of National Growth Strategies

Gallatin Plan 1808 Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot 1908

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National Resources Planning Board and the Interstate

System

National System of Interstate Highways, Public Roads Administration, 1947

Early interstate plan, from “Toll Roads and Free Roads,” National Resources Planning Board and Bureau of Public Roads, 1939

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Toward a 21st Century

Infrastructure Investment Plan

Judith Rodin Earl Blumenauer

Ed Rendell Tom Donohue

Forum at Woodrow Wilson Center Washington, D.C. May 9, 2008

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A Strategic Investment Framework

•High-speed rail

•Goods movement and ports

•Energy transmission

•Water infrastructure and protection

•Airports and regional connections

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Boston

New York

Philadelphia

Baltimore

Washington

The Northeast Megaregion

• 49 million inhabitants

• 17% of U.S. population on 2% of the land area

• 20% of U.S. GDP• Will add 19

million additional people by 2050

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Urbanized Areas 2000 - 2050

Source: RPA GIS Model, Woods & Poole County Population projections

25.2%39,128,555

2050

16.4%25,487,0872025

9.7%14,657,0282000

% of Total

AcresYear

Change in Urbanized Land 2000 - 2050

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Transportation Infrastructure

Image: University of Pennsylvania

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Commutes are Getting Longer 1990- 2000

Source: U.S. Census

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650,000 people commute between metropolitan areas in the Northeast

Change in Commutation in the Northeast, 1990-2000

8%

23%

22%

37%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Within MetropolitanAreas

Within Non-MetroAreas

Between Metro & Non-Metro Areas

Between Metro Areas

Source: U.S. Census

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Employment Change Index Northeast Metros and U.S.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics Survey 1990 - 2004

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How do we build on the Northeast’s strategic

advantages?

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Density Peaks: Hubs of Face-to-face Communication

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Increase Capacity for Economic Growth

• Provide alternatives and redundancy to congested air travel, roads

• Increase frequency, speed, reliability, price of passenger rail

• Increase capacity of regional rail services

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•Expand rail service to underperforming cities•Expand job markets and access to lower-cost housing •Focus investments around station areas - TOD

Connect Hot and Cold Growth Centers

Future Moynihan Station West – Hub on the NEC

“Hot and Cold” Index of the Northeast: U. Penn 2004

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Meet Targets for Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• The transportation advantage.

• The cold climate and old buildings disadvantage.

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Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility

1. Support multi-year funding authorization/ appropriations for Amtrak

2. Develop a vision for the future of the Northeast Corridor mobility

3. Advance Northeast interests in 2009 transportation bill

Rail Bill Press Conference Oct 2008

Northeast Summit Mar 2007U.S. Capitol Reception Apr 2008

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