SWUTC Research Project Description
Title of Project: The Texas Urban Triangle: Framework for Future Growth
Project Number: 167166
Principal Investigator:
Michael Neuman
(979) 845-7062
P.I. Affiliation: Texas A&M University
Project Monitor:
Dr. Catherine L. Ross
Director
Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development
(404) 385-5130
Contract Monitor:
Robin Kline
USDOT - RITA
(202) 366-2732
Project Status: Active
Date Started: 9/1/06
Estimation Completion Date: 8/31/07
Estimated Cost – Current Fiscal: $50,000
Estimated Cost – Total Planned: $50,000
Project Summary:
Abstract:
The Texas Urban Triangle – comprised of the metropolises of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin – contains nearly 75 percent of the state’s population. Projections indicate that over the next 20 years, population in the area will account for 80 of the state’s total. Moreover, the most rapid urban growth and land consumption in the state is in the Triangle cities’ fringes. Most pollution and other environmental problems, along with unemployment and other social inequities, are generated in these metropolises. How Texas addresses these and other issues in this critical area will have a major effect on the social, economic and environmental quality of life in the State.
Many of these conditions in the Texas Urban Triangle are due to the utilization of and accessibility afforded (or not) by infrastructures, especially transportation infrastructure. The TTI Urban Mobility Studies show that the patterns of vehicular movement and their attendant problems and opportunities result from metro transport systems that rely almost exclusively on highways and surface roads, and inter-metropolitan transportation that relies on surface vehicles and air travel, both forms highly consumptive of fossil fuels and generative of many negative impacts. The Texas Urban Triangle is a singular, new, extremely complex, and important urban phenomenon, and it is critical that policy debates be opened in state and national forums and arenas that are based on solid, multi-disciplinary scientific data.
This project will examine the relations of transportation infrastructure – focusing on goods and people, rail, air, and highways – with other infrastructures, including communication, water, and green infrastructure. The ultimate intent is to inform the integration of policy, planning, and investments in multiple use inter-metropolitan infrastructure corridors.
Objectives:
This project will examine the relationships between transportation infrastructure – focusing on goods and people, rail, air, and highways – and other infrastructures, including communication, water, and green infrastructure. The ultimate intent is to inform the integration of policy, planning, and investments in multiple use inter-metropolitan infrastructure corridors. The project will explore economic, demographic, and environmental conditions and trends as they will affect demand for these infrastructures, and thus build on prior work for the Trans Texas Transportation Corridor. This project will also extend along selected corridors into neighboring jurisdictions, such south along I-35 to the Mexican border, east along I-10 toward New Orleans, and north along I-35 into Oklahoma. These strategic trade corridors expand the Triangle’s territory in tune with 21st century economic and demographic patterns due to NAFTA, globalization, and other factors.
This project is intended to provide a baseline foundation for future research that details these conditions and provides guidance to decision makers at all levels of government – especially state and federal – and the private sector. Unlike most agency-specific studies, we will take a broad and synthetic view of the key factors that drive regional growth so that it can be accommodated in a more sustainable regional design. The basic research questions we ask are spatial:
GIS will be the primary method of data analysis and presentation, and team members are expert in GIS theory and applications.
Tasks:
Task 1: Data Collection
Over the next two semesters Principal Investigator Michael Neuman’s Infrastructure Planning (Fall 2006) and Sustainable Urbanism (Spring 2007) graduate seminars will address the Texas Urban Triangle as class term projects. Students will be involved in research and service learning projects designed to address the objectives of the study. Specifically, students will begin the data collection process, including but not limited to data related population and demographics, employment, industry, movement, land use, infrastructure, environment and agriculture of the counties and cities within the Texas Urban Triangle.
Task 2: Assemble, Map and Analyze Dataset
Principal Investigator Michael Neuman will also partner with Professor Elise Bright on the Applied Planning Studio (Spring and Fall 2007) to the assist in the data collection process (Fall 2006) and in the process of preparing a policy plan for the Triangle (Spring 2007). In order to begin preparation of the preliminary policy plan and recommendations, the data collected during Task 1 will be assembled, mapped, correlated, and analyzed and will lead to preliminary policy recommendations.
Task 3: Prepare Draft Final Report and Website
The preliminary research findings will be completed and produced in the form of a written report, a web site, and on CD. The report will include charts and graphs displaying data and findings, plus regional and metropolitan maps prepared using GIS.
Task 4: Organize Symposia
To communicate the preliminary results, two symposia will be organized in each Texas Urban Triangle metropolitan area to present findings and open research and civic dialogues and debate. One of the symposia will be for researchers and interested professionals with the second geared for the general public. The focus of both symposia, however, will be both to not only inform potential constituencies as to the nature of the project, the assembled database, the preliminary analysis, and the website, but also to seek input and comment on how to improve the products.
Task 5: Prepare Final Report and Website
Once pubic and professional feedback has been received on the report, its findings as well as the accessibility, ease-of-use and understanding of the database, a final report will be issued and the website will be revised and updated.
Task 6: Prepare Research Proposals for Other Sponsors
To continue and expand this effort, other research proposals will be submitted to the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, private foundations, and other entities to seek funding for continuing this research in the future.
Possible Index Terms:
Urban Areas, Urban Growth, Urban Population, Urban Transportation, Infrastructure, Rail (Railroads), Highways, Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, San Antonio (Texas)
