Background
(Portions of this section are adapted from the Annual Report on Land Use)
Southwestern Pennsylvania is a diverse region blessed with an abundance of natural and historic treasures. Our traditions and heritage date to the very origins of this country. Thanks to our many local resources, innovations and industrious people, our steel-based economy once helped to fuel the nation’s development. But the dominance of the industrial sector here meant that the Mon Valley was especially hard hit by economic shifts, beginning in the 1950s.
Demographic trends here are hardly unique. With a few exceptions, our population has grown in traditionally rural and newer suburban areas, while it has declined in urban and older suburban areas. Many newer communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, such as Cranberry Township, are experiencing rapid population growth and enjoying economic prosperity, while older communities are economically and demographically stagnant. Traditional urbanized areas continue to lose their population and tax base to suburban areas. And across the board, Pennsylvanians have become increasingly dependent on their automobiles.
These shifts have dramatically affected Pennsylvania’s physical, social and economic landscape, taxing our environment, straining existing transportation systems and threatening our quality of life. We’ve sunk significant public resources into costly infrastructure such as schools, roads, water and sewer lines to support growing suburban and rural areas, while neglecting older communities. Crumbling infrastructure and limited access to regional transportation systems have stifled the Mon Valley’s ability to nurture, retain and attract businesses.
Shrinking older communities in southwestern Pennsylvania have found it difficult to plan for economic re-investment partly because so few municipalities have the resources to hire professional planners. The sheer number of municipalities also makes it challenging to coordinate a regional recovery plan. Local councils of government promote cooperation among member municipalities by providing a variety of public services, but they have not traditionally supported proactive planning. Because of this lack of coordinated, locally driven planning, most of the plans made for the Mon Valley have been done by county and regional agencies – but with little consultation or buy-in at the local level.
Clearly, there has been no lack of planning for the region. What has been lacking is action.
Because of the ever-growing demand for transportation improvements in Pennsylvania and the limited funds available, Mon Valley communities will need unified and persistent effort to get improvement projects moving. The best way to do this is to work together through collaborative multi-municipal planning and organized advocacy. The information and tools in this document can help you successfully compete for a meaningful share of the limited resources available for regional transportation and economic development projects.
(Portions of this section are adapted from the Annual Report on Land Use)
Southwestern Pennsylvania is a diverse region blessed with an abundance of natural and historic treasures. Our traditions and heritage date to the very origins of this country. Thanks to our many local resources, innovations and industrious people, our steel-based economy once helped to fuel the nation’s development. But the dominance of the industrial sector here meant that the Mon Valley was especially hard hit by economic shifts, beginning in the 1950s.
Demographic trends here are hardly unique. With a few exceptions, our population has grown in traditionally rural and newer suburban areas, while it has declined in urban and older suburban areas. Many newer communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, such as Cranberry Township, are experiencing rapid population growth and enjoying economic prosperity, while older communities are economically and demographically stagnant. Traditional urbanized areas continue to lose their population and tax base to suburban areas. And across the board, Pennsylvanians have become increasingly dependent on their automobiles.
These shifts have dramatically affected Pennsylvania’s physical, social and economic landscape, taxing our environment, straining existing transportation systems and threatening our quality of life. We’ve sunk significant public resources into costly infrastructure such as schools, roads, water and sewer lines to support growing suburban and rural areas, while neglecting older communities. Crumbling infrastructure and limited access to regional transportation systems have stifled the Mon Valley’s ability to nurture, retain and attract businesses.
Shrinking older communities in southwestern Pennsylvania have found it difficult to plan for economic re-investment partly because so few municipalities have the resources to hire professional planners. The sheer number of municipalities also makes it challenging to coordinate a regional recovery plan. Local councils of government promote cooperation among member municipalities by providing a variety of public services, but they have not traditionally supported proactive planning. Because of this lack of coordinated, locally driven planning, most of the plans made for the Mon Valley have been done by county and regional agencies – but with little consultation or buy-in at the local level.
Clearly, there has been no lack of planning for the region. What has been lacking is action.
Because of the ever-growing demand for transportation improvements in Pennsylvania and the limited funds available, Mon Valley communities will need unified and persistent effort to get improvement projects moving. The best way to do this is to work together through collaborative multi-municipal planning and organized advocacy. The information and tools in this document can help you successfully compete for a meaningful share of the limited resources available for regional transportation and economic development projects.