Megaregion Projections 2015 to 2045 with Transportation Policy Implications

Abstract

A megaregion is characterized by common economic structures, culture, history, topography, and climate, among other factors. The United States is composed of 10 megaregions. Together they account for three-quarters of the nation’s population, but they make up a fifth of the land located in the contiguous states. Moreover, the U.S. megaregions are more densely settled than are megaregions in Western Europe. It would seem that America’s future is in the policies, planning, and investments aimed at the megaregion scale. To help advance such a proposition, this paper generates population, economic, and employment projections for the nation’s megaregions as well as for the nation as a whole. Implications and recommendations for next steps are offered.

Effect of Cross-Departmental Collaboration on Performance: Evidence from the Federal Highway Administration

“…For instance, the FHWA recognizes the necessity of highway planning and management from a megaregional perspective. The US megaregions are a network of metropolitan areas combined through similar characteristics and mutual interests of social, economic, topographic, political, climatic, and infrastructural issues [67]. Because the US highway systems transcend many jurisdictional boundaries, highway planning and management is an inherently megaregional issue.…”