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The Northeast Megaregion

Robert YaroPresident, Regional Plan Association

Megaregions + MetroProsperitySustainable Economics for the Texas Triangle

Megaregion

September 24, 2009Houston, TX

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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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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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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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2000 - 2050• Exurban and

Suburban land types

• Conversion of farmland and forests

Fastest Projected Growing Areas

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Large Landscapes and Estuaries

At Stake…

Source: RPA, adapted from the Appalachian Mountain Club

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Congested Roads, Rails, and Sky

Image: University of Pennsylvania

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Commutes are Getting Longer

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Linked Economies

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Airports are reaching Gridlock

•20 percent of flights in the NY Metro region are 350 miles or less

•By 2010 airfields at Newark and JFK will approach capacity

Roundtrip Flights DailyDC – NY: 86NY – Bos: 76Bos – DC: 42

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How do we build on the Northeast’s strategic

advantages?

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Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility

• Coalition of chambers of commerce, civic organizations

• Focus on Amtrak authorization and appropriations

• Advocacy for NE interests in surface transportation bill

Union Station Press Conference Oct 2008

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

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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, affordability of intercity rail

• Increase capacity of regional rail services

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Meet Targets for Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• On a per passenger basis, Amtrak is:– 18% more energy

efficient than airlines– 17% more efficient

than autos(Source: Oak Ridge Nat’l Lab.

Transportation Energy Data Book)

• Air travel has greater GHG impact than ground emitters. – (CO2, H2O, NOx in

stratosphere.)

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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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www.America2050.org