In this section, we analyze big-picture trends that will affect our transportation system—things like changes to our demographics, economy, and housing, as well as rapid and profound changes in our climate and the technologies we use. By analyzing these trends, we hope to better adapt our transportation system and prepare it for the shifting nature of and demand for transportation in our county and region.

This is no easy task during normal times, let alone in a COVID world, but we’ve drawn important lessons from this research that help inform the policy and project recommendations in the plan.

Review each topic to see what we learned, what the identified trends might mean for the future of transportation, and how we might address them.