Learn More About Regional Planning "Growing and Governing Smart: A Case Study of the New York Region," By Robert Yaro www.brookings.org/es/urban/reflections/essay2.pdf Regional Plan Association www.rpa.org/ Since 1922, RPA has worked to improve the quality of life in the 31-county New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan area by creating long-term comprehensive plans and promoting their implementation across political boundaries. RPA recommends policy initiatives and physical and human infrastructure investments and involves the public in considering and shaping its future. RPA takes positions on major current public policy issues and works constructively and cooperatively on a non-partisan basis with public and private sector interests to advance its agenda. RPA's First Plan in 1929 provided the blueprint for the transportation and open space networks that we take for granted today. The Second Plan in 1968 was instrumental in restoring our deteriorated mass transit, preserving threatened natural resources and revitalizing our urban centers. Released in 1996, RPA's Third Regional Plan, "A Region at Risk," (which can be found at http://www.rpa.org/region_at_risk/index.html) called for building a seamless 21st century mass transit system, creating a three-million acre Greensward network of protected natural resource systems, maintaining half the region's employment in urban centers, and assisting minority and immigrant communities to fully participate in the economic mainstream. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey www.panynj.gov/ PA works to identify and meet the transportation needs of the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region. The Port Authority, founded in 1921, was established as the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and the first interstate agency created under a clause of the U.S. Constitution permitting compacts between states. The Port Authority constructed bridges, tunnels, airports, transportation terminals, and managed the shared port. Metropolitan Planning Organizations AMPO (Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations) www.ampo.org/ North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) njtpa.njit.edu/ Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) www.dvrpc.org/ South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) www.sjtpo.org/ History of MPOs from NJTPA Quarterly Part I: njtpa.njit.edu/hist_mpo1.htm Part II: njtpa.njit.edu/hist_mpo2.htm Regional Governance Structures Portland's Metropolitan Government www.metro-region.org/ NARC (National Association of Regional Councils) www.narc.org/ Minnesota's Metropolitan Council www.metrocouncil.org/index.htm The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area and providing essential services to the region. The Minnesota Legislature established the Metropolitan Council in 1967 to coordinate planning and development within the Twin Cities metropolitan area and to address issues that could not be adequately addressed with existing governmental arrangements. Additional legislative acts in 1974, 1976 and 1994 strengthened the Council's planning and policy roles, and merged the functions of three agencies (the Metropolitan Transit Commission, the Regional Transit Board and the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission) into one - the Metropolitan Council. Today, the Council works with local communities to provide these services: Operation of the region's largest bus system Collection and treatment of wastewater Engagement of communities and the public in planning for future growth Provision of forecasts of the region's population and household growth Provision of affordable housing Provision of planning, acquisitions and funding for a regional system of parks and trails NJ Special Protection Regions Delaware & Raritan Canal Delaware River Basin Commission www.state.nj.us/drbc/ In 1961, President Kennedy and the governors of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York signed concurrent compact legislation into law creating a regional body with the force of law to oversee a unified approach to managing a river system without regard to political boundaries. The members of this regional body include the four basin state governors and a federal representative appointed by the President of the United States. Delaware and Raritan Greenway, Inc www.delrargreenway.org/ D&R Greenway, Inc. protects and preserves land along the Delaware & Raritan Canal and the streams flowing through the surrounding 1,000-square mile region. Pinelands New Jersey Pinelands Commission www.state.nj.us/pinelands/ Pinelands Preservation Alliance www.pinelandsalliance.org/ Hackensack Meadowlands New Jersey Meadowlands Commission www.meadowlands.state.nj.us/ The Highlands Highlands Coalition www.highlandscoalition.org/ Skylands CLEAN www.skyclean.org/ USDA's Highlands Homepage www.fs.fed.us/na/highlands