Megaregions: Literature Review of the Implications for U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Transportation Planning

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For
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

Dr. Catherine L. Ross, Principal Investigator

Center For Quality Growth and Regional Development
at the Georgia Institute Of Technology

September 2008

FHWA-BAA-HEPP-02-2007

Deliverable 1b: a report comprised of case studies that summarize the application of large-scale regionalism in the U.S. and abroad and the existing literature on megaregions.

Submitted to:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Planning, HEPP-20
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Point of Contact: Supin Yoder

Submitted by:
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
(A Non-profit, State Controlled Institution of Higher Education)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Catherine L. Ross (catherine.ross@coa.gatech.edu)

Co-PIs: Jason Barringer, Jiawen Yang

Researchers: Myungje Woo, Jessica Doyle, Harry West, with Adjo Amekudzi and Michael Meyer

Georgia Institute of Technology
College of Architecture
Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD)
760 Spring Street, Suite 213
Atlanta, GA 30332-0790

Phone: (404) 385-5133, FAX: (404) 385-5127

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. Section I. Overview
   1. Research Background
   2. Report Organization
3. Section II. Foundations and Methods of Delineation
   1. Examining the Literature
      1. Regionalism
      2. Globalization
      3. Global Climate Change
      4. Economic Geography
      5. Spatial Planning
      6. Governance
      7. Informing a Megaregional Framework
   2. Megaregions & Infrastructure
      1. Freight Movement and Megaregions
      2. National Highway Systems (NHS)
      3. High-speed Railway (HSR) Systems
      4. Green Infrastructure
   3. Defining a Region
      1. Historic Delineation Methods
      2. Preliminary Delineations of Megaregions
4. Section III. A Historical and Contemporary Perspective
   1. History of Regional Planning in the United States
      1. The Regional Plan Association
      2. The Tennessee Valley Authority
      3. The Appalachian Regional Commission
      4. National Highway Planning
      5. Metropolitan Planning Organizations
      6. Conclusions
   2. From Regions to Megaregions
      1. Impetus for Megaregions for Transportation Planning
      2. Profiles of Megaregions in the United States
      3. Profiles of Megaregional Activities Abroad
5. Section IV. Conclusion
6. References
7. Tables

To provide Feedback, Suggestions or Comments for this page contact Supin Yoder (supin.yoder@dot.gov).