PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL POLICY ROUNDTABLES: PROSPECTS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey held a series of roundtables to assess and prepare for the emerging economic and infrastructure challenges facing the agency and the bistate metropolitan region as the twenty-first century approaches. These proceedings represent the dialogue on that topic--where the New York-New Jersey region is at present and where it is headed. The regional roundtable series constitutes a step in the evolution and refinement of the agency's efforts to develop a long-range strategy to guide the next generation of Port Authority capital investments and major programmatic initiatives. Each of the three roundtables focused on a key theme related to creating a long-term vision for the Port Authority. The first roundtable discussion, held in September 1993, focused on the demographic, economic, and political trends likely to affect the region's prospects over the next 20 years. The second roundtable, held in December 1993, considered the implications of the trends presented at the first roundtable for the region's future mobility needs. The third and final roundtable, held January 1994, focused on promoting regional trade, commerce, and economic development for the twenty-first century. The proceedings of the roundtables are highlighted in the summaries located at the beginning of each section of this publication. Each section includes articles and comments contributed by panelists, covering a wide range of topics and interests that reflect a variety of thought-provoking ideas.