Regional Growth and Transportation Infrastructure from Greenways to Public Transit

Tourism-based economies throughout the world are experiencing a surge in growth, driven in part by decreases in travel costs, increases in the average time available for leisure, and decreases in information costs. In the warmer climes, demographic forces, economic factors, and natural amenities have driven migration from colder, higher-cost-of-living regions. Migration and tourism have stimulated the transformation of landscape, economy, and culture for many of these growing destinations. As these regions grow, rising competitive forces foster innovation and new opportunities to leverage the traditional recreational amenities of the beaches, mountains, lakes, rivers, golf courses, and parks. The rapid spread of information changes expectations, and preferences evolve. The growth does not come without negative consequences; congestion increases, wear on infrastructure hastens, green space diminishes. Sustainable economic development does not ignore these consequences; it requires investment in capital, sound infrastructure, and the cooperation and commitment of private and public stakeholders.