Urban Trends in the Mountain WestPopulation, Economy, Connections, and Place

Robert Lang, Ph.D.Professor, Greenspun College of Urban AffairsDirector, Brookings Mountain West/UNLVRocky Mountain West –Urban Leadership SymposiumFebruary 27, 2013 – Denver, CO

What’s in This Talk?

Metropolitan Population Trends The West’s Big Metros in the

National and Global Economies Major Airports in the Mountain West The “Megapolitan” West Transit Development in the West Place Making in the Urban West

Mountain West Metros in 100 Largest U.S. Metros—10 Metros

2011 Population U.S. Rank% Population Change, 10-11

ArizonaPhoenix 4,263,263 14 1.68Tucson 989,569 52 0.95

ColoradoDenver 2,599,504 21 2.20Colorado Springs 660,319 81 2.28

IdahoBoise 627,664 85 1.80

NevadaLas Vegas 1,969,975 30 0.96

New MexicoAlbuquerque 898,642 57 1.30

UtahSalt Lake City 1,145,905 48 1.93Ogden 555,916 93 1.60Provo 540,834 97 2.66

2011 Population U.S. Rank% Population Change, 10-11

Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale MSAPhoenix 1,469,471 6 1.65Mesa 446,518 38 1.70Chandler 240,101 81 1.68Glendale 230,482 87 1.66Scottsdale 221,020 92 1.67Gilbert 211,951 99 1.68Tempe 164,268 145 1.58Peoria 156,637 151 1.67Surprise 119,489 215 1.68

Tucson MSATucson 525,796 33 1.09

CITIES OVER 100K IN AZ METROS

2011 Population U.S. Rank% Population Change, 10-11

Denver-Aurora-Broomfield MSADenver 619,968 23 3.3

Aurora 332,354 56 2.24

Lakewood 144,406 171 1.00

Thornton 121,435 212 2.24

Westminster 107,967 245 1.75

Arvada 107,541 250 1.04

Centennial 102,603 271 2.22

Colorado Springs MSAColorado Springs 426,388 41 2.39

CITIES OVER 100K IN CO METROS

2011 Population U.S. Rank% Population Change, 10-11

Boise City-Nampa MSABoise 210,145 101 2.18

CITIES OVER 100K IN ID METROS

2011 Population U.S. Rank% Population Change, 10-11

Las Vegas MSA

Las Vegas 589,317 31 0.95

Henderson 260,068 73 0.91

North Las Vegas 219,020 94 0.95

CITIES OVER 100K IN NV METROS

2011 Population U.S. Rank% Population Change, 10-11

Albuquerque MSA Albuquerque 552,804 32 1.27

CITIES OVER 100K IN NM METROS

2011 Population US Rank% Population Change, 10-11

Salt Lake City MSASalt Lake City 189,899 123 1.86West Valley City 131,942 188 1.9West Jordan 105,675 262 1.89

Provo-Orem MSAProvo 115,321 227 2.52

CITIES OVER 100K IN UT METROS

US Economy 3rd Quarter 2012

Metro Performance Since 2007

Traffic Aircraft

PassengersChange

MovementsChange

2010/11 2010/11 Denver 52,849,132 1.70% 628,796 -0.20% Las Vegas 40,560,285 2.00% 531,538 5.10% Phoenix 40,591,948 5.30% 461,989 2.80% Salt Lake City 20,389,474 -2.40% 358,002 -2.60%

West’s Hub Airports, 2011

Airline Hubs:Denver – UnitedLas Vegas – Southwest Phoenix – US AirwaysSalt Lake City – Delta

International Connections

I-11 Links Las Vegas/Phoenix

Light Rail in the West—Phoenix

BRT in the West—Las Vegas

Streetcar in the West—Tucson

Western Airport Links—Denver

Regional Rail in the West—SLC

Utah’s Frontrunner

Place Making—Big 4 Metros

Salt Lake City Phoenix

Denver Las Vegas

Place Making

Boise Tucson

Albuquerque Col. Springs