[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMON SENSE FOR THE TRIANGLE

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                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend to 
my colleagues the following article that appeared in the July 16, 2000, 
Raleigh News & Observer. Mack Paul, Chief of Staff to North Carolina 
Lieutenant Governor Dennis Wicker, wrote it. Mr. Paul has been active 
in local planning and transportation issues over the years as a civic 
leader, focusing on enhancing the Research Triangle area's quality of 
life and economic growth. The regionalism issue Mr. Paul addresses is 
one that will continue to gain importance and deserves the thoughtful 
attention of the Congress and the nation.

               [From the News & Observer, July 16, 2000]

                     Common Sense for the Triangle

                             (By Mack Paul)

       Raleigh.--Spurred in part by intense media attention, the 
     public dialogue on growth in the Triangle has progressed 
     markedly over the last two years. Many now see that gridlock, 
     Code Orange days and dwindling open space bear a direct 
     relation to the low density, auto-dependent pattern of 
     development known as sprawl. The ``Smart Growth'' principles 
     adopted last year by the Triangle Smart Growth Coalition and 
     Greater Triangle Regional Council embody this recognition.
       The next step remains much more problematic: what 
     strategies do we pursue to achieve smarter growth?
       Public transportation, downtown revitalization, open space 
     protection, affordable housing and traditional neighborhood 
     development top the list of preferred policy prescriptions. 
     Elected officials say that it is time to act. But we're not 
     acting--at least not with haste. Municipalities still see 
     little to gain within their local context from enacting Smart 
     Growth policies.
       We're confronted with the classic game theory known as 
     ``the tragedy of the common.'' In this scenario, herders must 
     share a common meadow. But no herder can limit grazing by 
     anyone else's flock. If a herder limits his own use of the 
     common meadow, he alone loses. Yet unlimited grazing destroys 
     the common resource on which the livelihood of all depends. 
     Therefore, the herders are seemingly doomed to self-defeating 
     opportunism.
       In the Triangle, the common meadow represents all those 
     resources that comprise our economic health and quality of 
     life, including our open space, air quality, infrastructure, 
     schools, jobs and housing. As each municipality grapples with 
     how best to utilize these resources in the face of a rapidly 
     growing herd, it confronts the reality that no matter how 
     wise its policies, it has no control over the other herders.
       In the tragedy of the common, mutual cooperation represents 
     the only way for the herders to survive long-term. Similarly, 
     mutual cooperation at the regional level--regionalism--offers 
     the best way for the Triangle to ensure long-term prosperity.
       Regionalism offers a framework for maximizing our use of 
     common resources in two ways. First, it encourages the 
     coordination of resource systems that cross jurisdictions. 
     For example, a regional transit system cannot succeed unless 
     station-area planning in all of the affected municipalities 
     supports it.
       Second and more important, regionalism helps to mitigate 
     disparate impacts that arise from competition for economic 
     growth. If one area captures most of the new jobs but offers 
     little affordable housing, it increases traffic and sprawl in 
     neighboring municipalities. If outlying rural areas attract 
     all of the new development, they can contribute to the 
     decline of a central city, worsen air quality and 
     significantly reduce the amount of open space.
       As shown by the tragedy of the common, regionalism poses a 
     real challenge because it requires a shift in thinking. 
     Individuals must see that their personal interests are better 
     served by cooperating with those with whom they compete for a 
     precious resource. It builds over time. With each success 
     comes trust and a desire for bolder action. Experience from 
     other areas provides three important lessons about 
     regionalism.
       First, regionalism cannot succeed without a strong civic 
     life. Those regional efforts that have succeeded all enjoy 
     active and ongoing participation by businesses and citizens 
     through a variety of civic organizations. The Triangle Smart 
     Growth Coalition, Greater Triangle Regional Council, Regional 
     Transportation Alliance and Triangle Community Coalition 
     offer examples of emerging regional civic groups. These types 
     of organizations provide our best opportunity for building 
     the strong relationships necessary for regional cooperation.
       Second, regionalism cannot succeed without a regional 
     framework for decision-making. Areas that have been 
     successful at pursuing Smart Growth strategies have some form 
     of regional authority. The tragedy of the common demonstrates 
     the difficulty in relying on the voluntary actions of one's 
     neighbors. Regional models vary widely--from purely advisory 
     as in Denver to more authoritative as in Atlanta and 
     Minneapolis. Any framework we adopt should reflect and be an 
     extension of the Triangle's civic life.
       Third, regionalism cannot succeed without some 
     encouragement from the state. Areas that have adopted 
     effective regional frameworks have benefited from state laws 
     supporting such action. A new law permitting the Triangle's 
     two Metropolitan Planning Organizations to combine would 
     facilitate regional transportation planning.
       Next year, the Smart Growth Commission will consider making 
     other recommendations, including financial incentives, to 
     encourage regionalism. The Triangle's leadership should help 
     shape and push for this legislation.
       Ultimately, the Triangle cannot fulfill its promise as a 
     ``world class region'' without regionalism. We will remain a 
     collection of dissonant localities simply exploiting the 
     economic principle that specialized industries tend to 
     cluster together. Once our quality of life wanes, those 
     industries will cluster elsewhere.
       Regionalism can ensure that does not happen by showing us 
     where self-interest is self-defeating and by offering a forum 
     for mutual cooperation. It offers the best hope for seeing 
     that our herd continues to prosper.

     

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