A new groundbreaking study released today by Regional Plan Association shows how the Access to the Region's Core project (ARC), the new trans-Hudson passenger rail tunnel being built by NJ TRANSIT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will significantly increase New Jersey and New York home values near train stations on the NJ TRANSIT system and MetroNorth's Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines by $19,000 on average if homes are within two miles of train stations and by $29,000 for homes within walking distance. Cumulatively, this increase in home value will be an astonishing $18 billion, creating a higher tax base and relieving pressure to increase tax rates in communities across New Jersey and New York. The report also shows that, because ARC shortens commuting times, the number of people who live west of the Hudson River within a reasonable (50-minute) commute of Midtown Manhattan will double when ARC is completed, expanding the workforce for New York City's highest-value businesses.

Regional Plan Association is pleased to announce the formation of the Better Airports Alliance - a coalition of business, civic, labor and environmental organizations committed to restoring, maintaining and expanding New York Metro region airports.  The Alliance aims to build a consensus for major improvements to JFK, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports, which rank as the country's most congested airports.

Regional Plan Association executive director Tom Wright testified at hearing on the Access to the Region's Core project and use of eminent domain, expressing support for the project. Once opened, ARC will double commuter rail capacity into the region, provide better access to higher paying jobs and be an economic boon to the region improving New York businesses access to the New Jersey labor pool.

Click through for full testimony.

Regional Plan Association today released images, program materials, video and audio files of the 20th Annual Regional Assembly, "Innovation and the American Metropolis," held on Friday, April 16th at the Waldorf Astoria.

Recap the days' events including keynote speeches by Bill McDonough and Adolfo Carrión and the presentation of the RPA Lifetime Leadership Award to Peter W. Herman by New York State Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch.

Additionally, audio files for each workshop panel are available. More materials, including presentations and transcripts will be posted as they become available. We'll be announcing the releases on Twitter, so be sure to follow us

Regional Assembly 2010 Conference Packet:

Program
Speaker Biographies
Lifetime Leadership Award Tribute Journal for Peter W. Herman