Austin Fights Back Against Peak Congestion

Sept. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and guest speakers will explain measures being developed to combat peak congestion in the Austin region at the 3rd annual State of Transportation on Wednesday, October 10, from 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Hilton Austin, 500 East Fourth Street.

Almost 50% of the region’s employment is located in four employment hubs – the urban core, NW Austin, Round Rock, and San Marcos – with almost 30% of the employment in the urban core. Over 88% of the people who work in Austin's urban core live outside of the urban core employment hub resulting in major congestion during the peak hours. Austin is fighting for relief during these commutes.

“We must find ways to develop a regional transportation plan that can be implemented, deals with today’s congestion and gets us ahead of problems we know we will have 25 years from now. Regardless of where we live or work, we must all think about transportation as a regional network,” said Austin Chamber Vice Chair of Regional Infrastructure & Development, Martha Smiley, Counsel to the Firm, Enoch Kever PLLC. “Connectivity between where we live, work, go to school, and play is essential to the long-term health and viability of our economy and to the quality of our lives in the Austin region.”

The Austin Chamber will reveal the inaugural Mobility Report including the updated Commuter Congestion Maps, previously known as Zip Code Maps which were first released at the 2011 State of Transportation. These maps help commuters and elected officials visualize the traffic that the region's workforce sits in on Central Texas' most congested corridors every day.

Keynote speaker, Phil Wilson, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, will report on major accomplishments in transportation since the 2011 Legislative Session. He will be followed by Texas State Senator Kirk Watson, District 14, who will provide an update on Rider 42 activities, an initiative he announced at the 2011 State of Transportation.

"Congestion continues to be a challenge for our growing region," said Senator Kirk Watson. "Rider 42 has helped local, regional and state partners work together on projects that will reduce congestion on the region's most congested corridors. By providing planning funds not otherwise available, Rider 42 presents an opportunity to develop larger scale, longer term projects."

Each year the Austin Chamber holds the State of Transportation to highlight the need to plan and fund transportation infrastructure that will support a dynamic and prosperous Central Texas economy and business climate. Over 350 elected officials, business and community leaders, and Chamber members attend.