xxxxxA fundamental element in the spatial structure of Megalopolis is
a hierarchy of cities connected by a network of roads. Running along
the central spine of the region, from south to north are cities of major
importance including Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York, and Boston. Around these cities are large suburban expanses
as well as a range of smaller cities including Trenton, Newark, New
Haven, Providence, Manchester and Portland.
xxxxxThe region is crisscrossed with interstate highways that
allow quick connections. The Interstate Highway System
was created in 1956. Under the legislation the
federal government pays 90% of the cost.
Some of the longest interstates pass
MEGALOPOLIS
Interstate Highways
County Boundaries
State Boundaries
Scranton
Wilkes-Barre
Paterson
State Capitals
Major Cities
Allentown
Harrisburg
Newark
Elizabeth
Trenton
Philadelphia
through the region.
Interstate 90 runs 3081
Portland
miles from Boston to
Seattle and I-80 covers
2907 miles from New York City
Concord
to San Francisco. The central
Manchester
north-south route, I-95 runs all the
way down the east coast of the
Lowell
US.
xxxxxWhile the interstates
Cambridge
Boston
connect the region to other
Worcester
parts of the country they
Springfield
also play an important part
Providence
in the dispersal from the
Hartford
central cities. Interstates
Waterbury
that circle the cities such
as the famous Beltway
in DC , I-495, I- 695
New Haven
Bridgeport
around Baltimore or I-95
Stamford
Yonkers
around Boston have allowed longer
commuting patterns and the dispersals of
commerce and people. The interstates have
New York
facilitated a wider spread of people and economic activity
across the region.
Jersey City
xxxxxDesigned to make traffic move quickly and easy, the interstates
have also generated more traffic. To be stuck on the Beltway, or any
of the many other bottlenecks, in a traffic jam is a reminder of the
tremendous amount of traffic in the region.
Martinsburg
Seattle
Baltimore
Megalopolis
Portland
Dover
Minneapolis
St. Paul
Milwaukee
Chicago
Omaha
Annapolis
Fairfax
Manassas
Washington, D.C.
Alexandria
Anchorage
San Francisco
San Jose
Las Vegas
UNITED STATES
Los Angeles
San Diego
State Boundaries
Fredericksburg
Major Cities
Honolulu
Phoenix
Tuscon
Denver
Albuquerque
Kansas
City
Oklahoma
City
Boston
Detroit
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Washington
Columbus
Indianapolis
Nashville Charlotte
Memphis
Atlanta
Fort Worth Dallas
El Paso
New Orleans
Austin
Houston
San
Antonio
Jacksonville
Miami