The metro revolution

8/19/2014

Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley call the dynamic transformation of cities a "Metro Revolution" that blurs jurisdictional boundaries between cities and suburbs. People and institutions in metro areas share broad economic, environmental, social, and infrastructure networks that define and shape lifestyles and livelihoods.

Two-thirds of Americans live in one hundred metro areas on twelve percent of our land mass and generate 75% of US GDP. These metro areas are the economic and cultural engines of the US.

Are you a metro person?
What does that mean to you?
Do you envision a lifetime of metro living?
How are you shaping the future of your metro area?

2 Comments

Amanda S.

9/21/2014 10:32:38

Like many of DC's residents, I moved here after growing up in a semi-rural community. Although I consider myself a metro resident, after 7 years in this city (and 6 living in other, smaller cities), I still struggle with whether or not I can live in such a metropolitan community forever.

This is an experience replaying thousands of times across the city. Personally, I expect I will remain a city resident, primarily because the quality of employment (interesting work) is so much higher in cities. Still, I most certainly will relocate from the dense urban center where I currently live to a quieter community within the city bounds.

For this reason, I believe cities with diverse neighborhoods are far more resilient, because they can accommodate their residents as they move through different life stages. This is one area where DC has historically struggled, not because it lacks diversity in housing stock, but because it has poor school systems. This will be a critical barrier for DC, and many other cities, to overcome if they are to continue to prevent urban flight to the suburbs.

Fatima Kyari

10/5/2014 16:11:32

The District of Columbia has a population of more than 600,000 however; with the surrounding suburbs the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 5.3 million making it the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the country. Having lived in the DC area for a year, Metro is very convenient and is still a developing system that aims to guide residents to regional parks, businesses, a way for students to get to schools through the easiest means of transportation. I envision a lifetime of metro living for decades to come.
Here is a link that gives insight on Ward 5 candidates’ views on transportation, safety and development: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/ward-5-candidates-views-on-transportation-safety-development/2012/05/12/gIQAJnyTKU_story.html

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