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