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Regional Plan AssociationThe Independent Voice for the Tri-state Region

The Tri-State Region:

• One of the World’s Largest Metropolitan Regions

• Twenty Million Residents and a nearly $1 TrillionEconomy

• A Global Center of Finance, Commerce, Cultureand Communications

New York - New Jersey - Connecticut

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The region is also one of themost diverse places in

America, encompassing NewYork City and hundreds ofsmall and mid-sized cities,

suburbs and ruralcommunities.

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America’s largest urbanregion is situated in themidst of an exceptionalnetwork of natural and

scenic areas.

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Despite decades of rapidgrowth and continual

technological change, theregion provides its residentswith unparalleled economic

opportunities, andexceptional quality of life.

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The key to the region’s success has been its abilityto anticipate change and invest in the world’s largestmetropolitan transportation and greenspace systems,and create the capacity for sustained growth in the

region’s cities and suburbs

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For nearly eighty years Regional Plan Association hasprovided the vision and leadership to anticipate change

and promote these investments.

RPA’s Mission:

RPA was established in 1921 as anindependent, non-governmental organization

• Prepare a long-range, comprehensive, region-wide plan

• Promote regional identity and educate public onregion’s needs

• Mobilize business, civic and political support forinvestments and policy changes needed toimplement plan

• Create long-term framework for region’s growth

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The first Regional Plancalled for creation ofregion-wide highway,

transit and parksystems and modernairports and seaports.

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The Plan also called for building improved urban andsuburban centers that shaped the region’s growth for

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• RPA was incorporated as apermanent, not-for-profitorganization in 1929 to carry outa sustained advocacy program forthe Plan’s implementation

Implementing the Plan:

• By 1940 most of the Plan’s highway, bridge and tunneland park improvements were largely completed throughNew Deal construction projects and the work of masterbuilders, including Robert Moses.

• Only limited progress was made on the Plan’s transitrecommendations.

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By 1940, however, RPA began to oppose damagingpublic works projects proposed by Moses and others.

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In 1968, RPA completed theSecond Regional Plan to

create a positive vision forthe region’s growth in thelast third of the Century

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The Second Plan Called for:

• Creating the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Revitalizingthe Subway and Commuter Rail Networks

• Focusing Job Creation in Manhattan and a Network of RegionalCenters

• Creating a 1-Million-Acre Park System

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The Plan Resulted in:

• Establishment of theMetropolitan TransportationAuthority and other Agencies

• Investment of more than $30 Billion in theRail Network

• Location of Hundreds of Thousands of New Jobsin Designated Centers

• Creation of Hundreds ofThousands of Acres of NewParkland

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In 1990, RPA began work onthe Third Regional Plan tocreate a new framework forthe region’s growth in the

21st century.

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Completed in 1996, the Third Plan calls for:

• Strengthening the region’s competitiveness in changing world markets

• Creating new capacity for sustained growth in its centers andtransportation systems

• Fighting urban sprawl

• Bringing millions of immigrants and minorities into the region’smainstream

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• Revitalizing urban centers• Protecting the region’s environmental and water resources

The Third Plan Proposes Five Campaigns:

• Governance: Creating Institutions and Financing Needed to Implementthe Plan

• Workforce: Reforming Urban Schools and Linking Inner-City Workers toEmployment and Training Opportunities

• Centers: Focusing Employment Growth in NYC and Regional Downtowns

• Greensward: Creating a Network of Protected Resource Systems• Mobility: Creating a Regional Express Rx Rail Network

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The Third Plan Calls for Investing:

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$75 Billion in New TransitCapacity, Environmental

Protection and RevitalizedCenters

An Equivalent Amountin Revitalized Urban

Schools and ImprovedWorkforce Skills

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Focus on Action:

Significant progress is being made inimplementing the Third Plan’s key

recommendations:

• $20 billion has been committed to transit improvements

• All three states have initiated major open spaceprotection programs

• Improved state growth management systems are beingadopted in NJ, and investigated in NY and CT

• New master plans are being prepared for several urbanand suburban centers

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• Long Island Railroad EastSide Access

• Rail Connections to All ThreeAirports

• The MetroLink Second Avenue Subway, providing newconnections to Wall Street and the Outer Boroughs

RPA’s Rx Rail proposal integrates elements ofsubway and commuter rail systems into anintegrated system that provides new capacity,shortens travel times, and serves new destinations.

Key links include:

Focus on Rx: Regional Express Rail Network

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• East Side Access funded 1998

• JFK AirTrain opens 2002

• MetroLink committed 2000, as part ofMTA Capital Investment Program

RPA created Empire State Transportation Alliance(ESTA) - a coalition of 35 civic, environmental andbusiness groups - to advocate for Rx investments.

Important progress has already been made:

• Newark Airlink opens 2001

• ESTA now promoting financingplan to support this program

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Focus on Rx:

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20,000-acre SterlingForest has been

protected as part oflarger NY-NJ-CTHighlands Reserve

Key Elements of the Greensward Plan Are Being Implemented:

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Focus on Greensward:

RPA is leadingefforts to create anew Long IslandSound Reserve

The 100,000-acreLong Island Pine

Barrens Reserve hasbeen established,

protecting theIsland’s

groundwaterreserves

Key Elements of the Greensward Plan Are Being Implemented:

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Focus on Greensward:

RPA’s plan for theNew York HarborReserve, includingGovernors Island,the Hudson River

Park and other parksis proceeding

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Key Elements of the Greensward Plan Are Being Implemented:

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Focus on Greensward:

The New York Citywatershedagreement isprotecting the City’smillion acre upstatereservoir system

Long-Term Outlook:

• RPA’s Third Regional Plan provides a frameworkfor the region’s sustained growth and quality oflife in the first decades of the 21st century.

• RPA is creating alliances with state and citygovernments and its civic partners to build a strongbase of support for the Plan’s implementation.

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The Region’s Agenda:Building the Regional City

The SchumerGroup of 35

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Metrotech

Midtown

Downtown

River City

Growth of the CBD

Long Island City

Far West Side

Downtown Brooklyn

Jersey City

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Building the Regional City Around the New Corporate Geography and a transformedRegional Rail Network and NECorridor

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