Neuman, College of Architecture to have
leading roles in Texas Triangle conference

Leaders from throughout the rapidly growing region known as the Texas Triangle will gather to form a shared vision for the area at a major conference in Houston co-sponsored by Texas A&M’s College of Architecture.

Michael Neuman, associate professor of urban planning at Texas A&M and one of the leading researchers of the region, is scheduled to be one of the panelists at “Megaregions + MetroProsperity: Sustainable Economics for the Texas Triangle,” Sept. 24 and 25 at the Rice Hotel.

Neuman collaborated with Elise Bright, professor of urban planning, and graduate students in a 2006-07 study which resulted in a 140-page report, ”Texas Urban Triangle: Framework for Future Growth.” They researched key strategic factors shaping the future growth of the mega-region, including current and future needs for water, energy, housing, education, transportation, and other infrastructure.

According to the event's organizers, the Megaregions & MetroProsperity forum's goals are to:

• Build support for a national infrastructure investment plan and establish knowledge of megaregions by leaders in the metro areas of the Texas Triangle, which includes Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, and San Antonio,
• Identify major transportation, energy, and water infrastructure priorities in the Texas Triangle megaregion,
• Seek common ground among regions in the Texas Triangle on programs and policies to meet core infrastructure challenges,
• Explore emerging economic trends and strategies for sustainable prosperity in metro regions, and
• Create a framework for working toward a vision for sustainable prosperity in the Texas Triangle.

Houston Tomorrow, formerly the Gulf Coast Institute, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 to explore urban issues and inform the discussion of growth in the Houston Gulf Coast region. America 2050 is a national initiative to meet the infrastructure, economic development and environmental challenges of the nation as it prepares to add about 130 million additional Americans by the year 2050.

More information and registration details about the forum are available at texastriangle.org.

The Houston Tomorrow website can be accessed at www.houstontomorrow.org.

For more about America 2050, visit www.america2050.org.

- Posted: September 08, 2009 -