About America 2050
America 2050 is Regional Plan Association's national infrastructure planning and policy program, providing leadership on a broad range of transportation, sustainability, and economic-development issues impacting America's growth in the 21st century.
A major focus of America 2050 is the emergence of megaregions - large networks of metropolitan areas, where most of the population growth by mid-century will take place. Examples of megaregions are the Northeast Megaregion, from Boston to Washington, or Southern California, from Los Angeles to Tijuana, Mexico. Megaregions comprise multiple, adjacent metropolitan areas connected by overlapping commuting patterns, business travel, environmental landscapes and watersheds, linked economies, and social networks. America 2050 has identified 11 megaregions in the United States.
Since the program was launched in 2005, America 2050 has published influential research and made policy recommendations on key issues impacting the future growth and competitiveness of the United States. In 2008-2009, America 2050 led a national campaign on Rebuilding and Renewing America, which hosted major conferences in eight of the nation's megaregions to identify strategic infrastructure priorities for a national infrastructure plan.
Starting in 2009, America 2050 has shaped the national debate on high-speed rail and developed recommendations on how national investments should be focused in corridors with the greatest demand for ridership. America 2050's research has also highlighted international lessons on high-speed rail for U.S. policy makers.
In 2012, America 2050's research has focused on accelerating investments in restoring the nation's infrastructure, including strategies for expediting the environmental review process on major job generating infrastructure projects of national significance.
In the coming years America 2050 will continue to provide leadership on regional planning and major infrastructure priorities in the nation, including integrating water and energy planning with land use considerations and developing recommendations for the transition to a new presidential administration in 2013.
America 2050 receives financial support from:
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The Surdna Foundation
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
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