What Is the Plan?
Update: Connections 2050 is Greater Philadelphia's Long-Range Plan (Plan). The Plan serves as the blueprint to guide growth and development in our region and to prioritize funding for capital transportation investment accordingly.
The Plan looks ahead to how our region will grow and change—considering population trends, the economy, the environment, and technology—to guide investments in roads, transit, biking, walking, and other transportation modes.
The DVRPC Region
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Greater Philadelphia is one of the nation’s most historic and dynamic regions. Once an industrial powerhouse, it has evolved into a diverse economic and cultural hub. The region is a complex mosaic of 350 municipalities, from the nation’s sixth-largest city to small rural hamlets with a wide range of communities in between. Each of these places has different needs and varying levels of resources to respond to them. Today’s regional economy is powered by healthcare, education, technology, and creative sectors, all connected by a robust transportation network linking us to New York, Washington, D.C., and beyond.
Still, our region faces challenges:
- Rising housing costs and affordability pressures
- Aging infrastructure
- Shifts in commuting and work patterns
- Funding shortfalls for public transit
Addressing these issues requires regional coordination and collaboration—the heart of DVRPC’s mission.
The Long-Range Plan
At its core, the Plan expresses a vision for Greater Philadelphia in 2050—what kind of region we want to become and how we might get there together.
The Long-Range Plan (Plan) outlines what is needed to build a safe, modern, and multimodal transportation network out to the year 2050, shapes which transportation projects receive funding over the next two decades, and connects these investments to broader land use, environmental, economic, and quality of life goals.
See the Vision for 2050Putting the Plan into Action
While the Plan is updated every four years, implementation happens every day. DVRPC and its partners move projects forward through two key processes:
- The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): the region’s short-term list of funded transportation projects. Larger projects originate from the Plan.
- The Annual Work Program: ongoing studies, planning initiatives, and technical support that help local governments advance shared goals. Programs and activities align with the Plan’s five key elements: Transportation, Economy, Communities, Environment, and Infrastructure and Utility Services.
