New York Is Getting Too Big

"By the year 2030, New York City could have so many people straining its infrastructure that it won't have enough electricity or housing to meet demand, and rush hour traffic will last all day."

The city's famous subway system will likely be "crammed beyond capacity and won't be able to accommodate the swarm of commuters during what is now considered normal rush hour."

"Energy demand could exceed supply by as early as 2012, and by 2030 the majority of the city's power plants will be more than 50 years old. The city needs to improve efficiency, use alternative energy sources and modernize its grid, which was built in the 1920s."

Mayor Bloomberg and others are hoping to begin planning for new roads, rails, parks and housing, while looking at ways to get more out of existing infrastructure.

"Suggestions offered by the expert panel included taxing vehicles that drive into Manhattan's most heavily trafficked neighborhoods, called congestion pricing; and charging residents by the pound for the trash they throw out."