MEGAREGIONAL SYNERGY the Intersection of Teaching, Research, and Practice at the University of Texas
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MEGAREGIONAL SYNERGY The Intersection of Teaching, Research, and Practice at the University of Texas Forum Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association’s State Conference Presented by Dr. Talia McCray and Billy Fleming Fort Worth, TX 10.4.2012 MEGAREGIONAL SYNERGY Outline 1. Developing the Nation’s First Course on MegaRegions Dr. Talia McCray 2. New Planners and the MegaRegional Opportunity Billy Fleming DEVELOPING THE NATION’S FIRST COURSE ON MEGAREGIONS Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Dr. Talia McCray 10.4.2012 Origins of the term “Megaregion” • Jean Gottmann, 1964 – French geographer coined the phrase “Megalopolis” – Very Large City. First applied to the Northeast Corridor – Boston to DC. Region defined as “discrete and independent, uniquely tied to each other through the intermeshing of their suburban zones, acting in some ways as a unified super- city: a megalopolis” • Global City-region (Scott, 2001) – Term has been used by urbanists, economists, and urban planners since the 1950s to mean not just the administrative area of a recognizable city or conurbation but also its hinterland that is often far larger. Economic ties may include rural areas, suburbs, or county towns. What is a Megaregion? • Networks of metropolitan regions with shared – Economies – Infrastructure – Natural resource systems • Stretching over distances of roughly 300 miles - 600 miles in length Source: Hagler & Todorovich, 2009 Definitions of a Megaregion • A chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas • Composed of two or more cities • Clustered network of American cities whose population ranges are or are projected between 7 to 63 million by the year 2025 • A polycentric agglomeration of cites and their lower-density hinterlands Spatial Linkages • Economics: Interlocking economic systems • Environment: Shared natural resources and ecosystems • Infrastructure: Common transportation systems How many Megaregions are there? Between 10 and 11, depending on the criteria Regional Plan Association & America 2050 – 11 Megaregions The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. 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Lang and Dhavale - Metroplitan Institute at Virginia Tech– 10 Emerging Megaregions Center for Quality Growth & Regional Development, Georgia Tech – 10 Emerging Megaregions Richard Florida “Who’s Your City” 12 Megaregions PLUS Mexico City Delineation Criteria of U.S. Megaregions Regional Plan Metropolitan Institute of VA Association Analysis Unit County County More than 2 metropolitan Requirements of areas & 10 million population N/A megaregions by 2040 - Population size - Environmental - Contiguity systems and - Cultural and historical topography geography - Infrastructure system Analysis Criteria - Physical environment - Economic linkage - Links of large centers - Settlement patterns - Growth projections and land use - Goods and service flows - Shared culture/history Need for Megaregions • Megaregions have been introduced as: A new framework for national spatial development policies • Captures the economic, political and spatial levels responding to agglomerations Business activity Population Mobility Natural Resources Source: Ross, 2009 Governance & Planning • No defined system in place for the MRs – Federal role(s): interstate commerce, air/water quality, highway funding – Cities and counties are responsible for metropolitan planning activities including land 1:Federal use – States responsible for state networks – Fitting in the private sector – Currently, the closest entity that takes a 2:State more ‘regional’ type role are MPOs/COGs • Have no tax base • No authority for state level activity 3:Local: County, City, Town Texas Megaregions • The Gulf Coast: Parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, • Texas Triangle: Eastern Texas Mississippi, and the Florida Principal Cities Panhandle. include Principal Cities include Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio Baton Rouge Texas Planning Today • Many entities exist that plan on a regional scale. – MPOs – COGs – Other entities (e.g. Envision Central Texas, Vision North Texas, Blueprint Houston, etc.) • These are limited by a lack of statutory power, some entities are essentially limited to recommendations. • Most planning is done at the state and local levels. • Is there a gap in the method of reconciliation between state and local plans? Challenges and Opportunities • By 2050 about 35 million people or 70% of Texas residents will live in the four metropolitan areas that comprise the Texas Triangle • Metropolitan areas have the potential to merge into a relatively continuous stretch of urbanization Zhang et al.,( 2007) The Value of a Megaregional Planning Course Changing our Scale of Thinking Defining the MR Linking research to education Linking practice to education Class Structure Identify a New Emerging Megaregion • In-class group assignment intended to expose students to applying theories and approaches discussed in class. A case can be made to divide/reshape an existing megaregion. • Name: Geography, Core areas, Areas of influence, Regional characteristics, Population, History, Culture, Environment, Prominent Industry, Transportation, & Infrastructure “Carbon Corner” Geography: Core Areas and Areas of Influence that define the “Carbon Corner” share common oil and natural resources and rely on one another for the extraction, processing and distribution of these resources. Core Areas: Tulsa MSAOklahoma City MSA Dallas/Ft. Worth MSA Houston MSA New Orleans MSA Gulfport MSA Mobile, AL MSA Jackson, MS MSALittle Rock, AR MSA Culture: Located in Southern states and thus share common (yet diverse) values, cuisine, etc. These areas are for the most part socially and politically conservative, and are considered to be a part of the “Bible Belt”. The Gulf is also a major influence on culture of this area (tourism and fishing industry). Great Lakes Mega Square Core areas: Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana Culture: Revolves around conservative midwestern values and prominently protestant. There is a hardworking blue collar attitude. Environment: These major cities were all founded along rivers, which was an important early freight route. Consequently, these cities and their hinterlands are linked by common water systems. The biomes of these areas are a mix of temperate forest and prairie. The USDA identifies this area as the corn belt, saying it is an excellent location for both raising livestock and growing many grain and other crops. NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Billy Fleming 10.4.2012 NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin MEGAREGIONAL PATHWAYS FROM UT-AUSTIN • Urban & Regional Policy @ The White House • Graduate Research through USDOT Funding • New Research on Conservation and Mega- regional Planning NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin URBAN & REGIONAL POLICY @ THE WHITE HOUSE • Urban Affairs Intern for the White House Domestic Policy Council o Shapes/pursues President’s Domestic Agenda o Aligns Agency Efforts and Funding o Conducts stakeholder engagement with “thought leaders” and those “in the trenches” o Serves as internal think-tank for policy development NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Source: White House Photo Office NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Source: whitehouse.gov NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin URBAN & REGIONAL POLICY AT THE WHITE HOUSE Source: whitehouse.gov NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin INTER-MEGAREGIONAL DYNAMICS THROUGH USDOT Zhang et al.,( 2007) Steiner et al.,( 2006) NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Feser et al.,( 2005) NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Feser et al.,( 2005) NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGAREGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Feser et al.,( 2007) NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGA-REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Inter-Megaregional Dynamics through the USDOT Source: David M. Theobald, Colorado State University 1940 NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGA-REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Inter-Megaregional Dynamics through the USDOT Source: David M. Theobald, Colorado State University 1950 NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGA-REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Inter-Megaregional Dynamics through the USDOT Source: David M. Theobald, Colorado State University 1960 NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGA-REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Inter-Megaregional Dynamics through the USDOT Source: David M. Theobald, Colorado State University 1970 NEW PLANNERS AND THE MEGA-REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY Mega-Regional Synergy at UT-Austin Inter-Megaregional Dynamics through the USDOT Source: David M. Theobald, Colorado State University 1980 The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. 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