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Megaregions and the Case for National Infrastructure Policy

Petra TodorovichDirector, America 2050

Megaregions + MetroProsperitySustainable Economics for the Texas Triangle

Megaregion

September 24, 2009Houston, TX

2Global climate change and foreign oil dependence

Rapid population growth and demographic change

Threats to our global competitiveness

Economic disparities and loss of opportunity

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University of Pennsylvania

International Competitors

European global integration zones

Chinese Megaregions -- Pearl River Delta

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Megaregion Priorities: Building Blocks of a National Plan

•High-speed rail

•Seaports, airports, and goods movement

•Energy transmission and generation

•Water infrastructure and protection

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Megaregion Forums to Set Priorities

Chicago, November 17, 2008

Atlanta, March 23, 2009

Washington, May 9, 2008 Sacramento, Dec 2, 2008

Los Angeles, June 19, 2009 New York, April 17, 2009

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A Tradition of National Planning

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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“This is an opportunity not only to deal with the immediate crisis, but also to lay the foundations for long-term growth and prosperity in this country.”

– President Barack Obama

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

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Planning at Every Scale

1. City planning

2. Regional planning

3. Megaregion-scale coordination

4. National Infrastructure Plan

Top right: Flickr/cbcastro

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Energy

Transportation

Water

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Population Pressures on Water Supply

Lake Lanier, Atlanta Reservoir Lake Mead, Las Vegas Reservoir

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Climate Change and Water Infrastructure

HIGHESTHIGHMEDIUMLOWLOWEST

STORM SURGE RISK

Storm Surge Risk in Houston, TX

Flooding in Iowa, Jun 2008

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Green Infrastructure

Storm water management in Portland: Flickr/ La Citta Vita

Wetland Restoration in Florida: Flickr/Seamoor

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Securing our Energy Future

Efficiency

Research & Development

Steady market signals

Transmission

The Smart Grid

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Renewable Energy and the Smart Grid

Source: The Economist, ABB

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www.America2050.org

www.rpa.org