Connections 2050 sets a goal to grow a more equitable economy by fostering a high-skilled workforce, reducing poverty and the wealth gap, and improving school quality for all residents. A highly educated population can lead to a more prosperous region by increasing the earnings and job stability of residents, which in turn can lead to better economic performance and less income inequality. Research has found that increased education levels can also improve public health and lower crime rates, among other benefits.
Increasing transit ridership is critical to maintaining a safe, multimodal transportation network that serves everyone. Increasing the share of people using transit also helps achieve other Connections 2050 goals to increase safety, reduce congestion, lessen roadway maintenance needs, improve air quality, and decrease the region's carbon footprint.
Connections 2050 sets a goal to increase the region’s mobility and reliability, while reducing congestion and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by developing a safe, integrated, and accessible multimodal transportation network. Decreasing VMT can reduce a number of negative environmental impacts from transportation—air and noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions—and lessen the demand to widen roads—which can increase stormwater runoff, fragment green space and wildlife habitat, and reinforce auto dependence.
Connections 2050 sets a goal to integrate the infrastructure we use to move around the region into an accessible, multimodal transportation network, with transit, walking, and biking serving as fundamental components. Increasing the share of people choosing to use transit, walking, biking, and/or carpooling–as opposed to driving alone–reduces congestion, lessens roadway maintenance needs, improves air quality, and decreases the region's carbon footprint.
ctions 2050 sets a goal to rebuild and modernize the region’s transportation assets in order to achieve and maintain a state-of-good repair. This is tough work for our state departments of transportation, as our aging infrastructure creates competing needs for maintenance funding.
