Transportation Planning and Infrastructure Delivery in Major Cities and Megacities

The number of major cities and megacities is increasing globally. How the distinctive opportunities and risks of major cities and megacities are managed will either erode or enhance the quality of life for their communities. Whereas only one megacity existed in 1950, more than 20 megacities currently exist–and ongoing urbanization inevitably will ensure that several major cities achieve megacity status. The megaregion is increasingly important in infrastructure development that not only solves existing metropolitan problems in a transient manner but proactively recognizes and capitalizes on supraregional opportunities to create sustainable alternatives. Transportation planning and infrastructure delivery are recast in this context, with recognition of the specific changes necessary to support the emerging urban form of megacities and megaregions. Specifically, the scope of the long-range transportation planning framework, infrastructure performance reporting practices, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) is examined in relation to providing adequate transportation infrastructure for megacities. For supraregional planning that involves multiple states and a cohesive vision and standards for the national transportation system, findings indicate that sustainable solutions may involve extending geographic and temporal frames of reference for long-range planning and expanding performance measures to capture appropriate planning inputs that evaluate planning effectiveness according to desired outcomes, a public-sector commitment to involve the private sector in infrastructure delivery, and federal and state leadership to pass laws that create a PPP-enabling environment.