1. Vision North Texas Presentation by Karen Walz FAICP

2. What is Vision North Texas? Private-public-academic partnership –ULI, NCTCOG, UTA are Charter sponsors –NTC is a sponsor Begun in late 2004 Objectives –Increase awareness about expected growth –Serve as a forum for dialogue among all stakeholders about critical issues –Build support for initiatives that create a successful and sustainable future for North Texas

3. Initial regional visioning workshop held at UT Arlington in April 2005 Result: 83% supported a ‘preferred growth scenario’; strong interest in continuing the project Diverse stakeholders from 10 county region How can we accommodate the growth that’s coming by 2030?

4. Stakeholders have consistently said we need better than business as usual for North Texas.

5. North Texas 2050 Will be created by the end of 2009 Addresses all 16 counties, through year 2050 Key components –Vision What kind of a region we want Preferred scenario(s) Integrated infrastructure framework –Action Package Tools to achieve the vision For use by all decision-makers Bottom line: gives us all a ‘gamebook’ for a future that will attract and keep people and businesses

6. Milestones to North Texas 2050 1.Regional Summit 2008 –December 9, 2008 –“Regional Choices for North Texas” 2.Alternative Futures Event –September 18, 2009 –“North Texas Alternative Futures” 3.Regional Summit 2010 –January 22, 2010 –“North Texas 2050”

7. Milestone 1 Download at www.visionnorthtexas.org

8. North Texas now As large as the state of Massachusetts Dominant U.S. metro –4 th largest population –4 th largest employment –5 th largest GDP 16 counties Many communities –Over 150 cities –11 cities have over 100,000 population

9. Growth is expected to continue. Population –5.31 million people in 2000 (and 6.52 in 2008) –9.49 million people in 2030 –11.66 million people in 2050 Employment –3.22 million jobs in 2000 –5.58 million jobs in 2030 –7.17 million jobs in 2050 And demographic characteristics change

10. The neighborhoods, jobs, services & amenities that North Texans want and need in 2030 (or 2050) will not be the same as in 2000. Market demand will not be met by ‘business as usual’.

11. Milestone 2 What are our other choices? Can we do better than business as usual?

12. Alternatives to ‘Business as Usual’ Connected CentersReturn on Investment Diverse, Distinct Communities Green Region

13. Alternatives evaluation completed Download at www.visionnorthtexas.org

14. Impacts & implications Geographic distribution of households and jobs Mixed use development opportunities Natural assets Water and waterworks Climate change Transportation Health Neighborhood vitality Housing Economy Development dynamics Education Community character

15. Transportation Compared to Business as Usual (BAU), all alternative scenarios reduce the average trip length by over 10%. Green Region & Diverse, Distinct Communities reduced hours stuck in traffic by 19%. Diverse, Distinct Communities shows the maximum air quality benefit, with 11% reduction in VOC & CO emissions. Return on Investment showed $6.9 billion cost savings to meet infrastructure needs.

16. Nutrition, Physical Activity & Health Six indicators developed by Health Research Team –Access to affordable healthy foods –Access to affordable physical activity opportunities –Educational attainment –Air quality –Social connectedness –Access to primary care Diverse, Distinct Communities and Green Region have the highest positive effect on the health of North Texans

17. Case studies

19. North Texas Alternative Futures Held last Friday in Irving; about 260 participants Speaker highlights: –Ebby Halliday – ‘water, water, water’ –Mayor Leppert – our region expects sustainability –Mayor Moncrief – ‘business as usual is dead’ Participant input: –Advantages & drawbacks of scenarios –Principles for the region’s future growth

20. Should sustainability be a criterion when North Texas makes regional investments? 1.Yes, this is essential 2.Desirable if we have enough resources 3.Probably not worthwhile 4.I’m not sure

21. Should we set regional investment priorities based on a preferred growth scenario? 1.Yes, this is essential 2.Desirable if we have enough resources 3.Probably not worthwhile 4.I’m not sure

22. Next Steps Results will shape North Texas 2050 –Drafted by the end of 2009 –Opportunity for further involvement by issue experts and stakeholders A Regional Summit on January 22, 2010 will finish creation of this regional ‘gamebook’ and begin its implementation.

23. Implications for the Texas Triangle?

24. How to forge a consensus sustainable vision for the Triangle? Partnerships are essential. –Public-private-academic partnerships –Across metro regions Fill a gap. –Focus on issues that aren’t addressed elsewhere –Look at interactions & synergy between issues Keep it Texan. –Emphasize benefits to the future Texas economy –Not top down, not ‘taking away freedom’

25. Top priority statewide actions? Persuade state elected officials. –Governor and Legislature –Find supporters they listen to Find resources. –Position Texas Triangle for potential new Federal funding – in addition to funding for individual metros –Grants from Statewide foundations or individuals Build from success. –Decide on one short-term ‘project’ and do it!

26. “Business as Usual” will not be successful or sustainable Building a new regional consensus – beginning with Vision North Texas – may help us achieve both. www.visionnorthtexas.org www.developmentexcellence.com

27. “Business as Usual” will not be successful or sustainable Building a new megaregional consensus may help us achieve both. www.visionnorthtexas.org www.developmentexcellence.com