Influence of Passenger Rail on the BosWash Megalopolis Corridor ...

<strong>Influence</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Passenger</strong> <strong>Rail</strong> on the BosWash Megalopolis Corridor
Based on these maps it is apparent that there is a trend relating poverty stricken regions to
centralized cities, such as Baltimore, Wilmington, and Camden. This socioeconomic issue is
going to be a challenge for the future <strong>of</strong> the corridor along with the related problems <strong>of</strong>
congestion and sprawl.
Conclusion
The passenger rail system has influenced the Megalopolis corridor since its development
in the 1830’s to its decline starting in the 1920’s. The influence <strong>of</strong> the passenger rail system
challenges Gottmann’s initial assumption that overlapping suburban areas formed the
Megalopolis corridor. In contrast, it was the rail system that was responsible for strategically
developing the corridor’s transportation “skeleton.” Megalopolis is a “transportation corridor”
rather than a corridor that formed as a function <strong>of</strong> urban decentralization.
The development <strong>of</strong> the passenger rail system provided mobility, interconnectivity, and
encouraged growth within the major cities <strong>of</strong> Boston, Providence, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and Washington D.C. It was the strategic placement <strong>of</strong> the rail lines that provided a
transportation “spine” for which the future highway system developed. Since its decline,
alternative modes such as the automobile and air travel have drastically increased. This caused
the passenger rail system to continue to suffer from lack <strong>of</strong> funding and decreased ridership
(Todorovich and Vallabhajosyula, 2007). Unfortunately, it is the reliance on these alternative
modes that cause congestion, sprawl, global warming, socioeconomic clustering, and other
Megalopolis corridor challenges for the future.
These challenges <strong>of</strong> the Megalopolis corridor must be addressed to maintain an
acceptable quality <strong>of</strong> life for its residents. In the future, the passenger rail system would be a
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