The Sun Corridor: Arizonas Megapolitan Future

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The Sun CorridorArizonas Megapolitan Future

• MAG Meeting
• Phoenix, AZ May 24, 2006
• Robert Lang, Professor and Director
• Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech

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Whats in This Talk?

• Review of Megapolitan Area Geography
• Arizona Sun Corridor Geography
• The Sun Corridors Ten Urban Realms
• Real Estate and Jobs Projections
• Policy and Planning Implications

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Arizona Republic March 2006
Megas In the News
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The Reality is That They Have Already
Statistically Merged
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Business 2.0 November 2005Megapolitan Area
Centerfold
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Original 2005 Megapolitan Geography
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Megapolitan Area Population and Growth Rates
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2006 Metropolitan Hierarchy
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Possible Census Combined Statistical Areas by
2010

• Phoenix-Tucson
• Los Angeles-San Diego
• San Francisco-Sacramento
• Washington-Baltimore-Richmond
• Tampa-Orlando
• New Orleans-Baton Rouge
• San Antonio-Austin
• Chicago-Milwaukee

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ArizonaSun Corridor
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Arizona Sun CorridorsTypes of Urban Realms
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Arizonas Sun Corridors Two Main Sections

• Phoenixs Six Urban Realms
• Central Valley, East Valley, West Valley,
  Northeast Valley, Northwest Valley, and Mid
  Corridor
• Tucsons Four Urban Realms
• Tucson Valley, Foothills, Santa Cruz Valley, and
  San Pedro Valley

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Arizona Sun CorridorsBiggest Cities in Urban
Realms
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Arizonas Sun CorridorProjections 2000 to 2040
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General Megapolitan Policy Implications

• The Megapolitan Interstate Network is Designed
  for Inter not Intra-Metropolitan Trips
• Megapolitan-Level Policies for Transportation,
  Environmental Pres. and Economic Development
• Plan for Urban RealmsEach Realm Needs Some
  Measure of Autonomy
• But Realms also Need More Effective Integration
  and Coordination

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Specific Urban Realm Policy Implications

• Core Realms
• Infill and Redevelopment of Principal Cities
• Favored Quarter Realms
• Job/Housing Balance and Affordable Housing
• Maturing Suburbs Realms
• Create Mixed-Use Centers in Principal Cities
• Emerging Exurban Realms
• Open Space Preservation and Clustered Dev.