Below the media advisory announcing the “Take on Traffic” press conference that will take place on Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 AM at Zilker Park.

The “Take on Traffic” education campaign is an expansion of CATC’s Transportation Advocacy Program (TAP) effort. The campaign, with support from business groups such as the Greater Austin Chamber, the Real Estate Council of Austin, CATC, and others, seeks to provide an accurate assessment of the Central Texas area’s transportation challenges and promote a regional comprehensive transportation plan.

Directions to the press conference: turn off Barton Springs Road at the booth as if heading to the Springs, veer left and pass the first lot - the conference will be held in the eastern most lot closest to the bridge.


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Austin Chamber Rolls Out Take on Traffic Campaign

February 16, 2006 – On Tuesday, Februay 20, The Austin Chamber of Commerce will launch Take on Traffic, an initiative formed to promote a comprehensive regional transportation plan to:

  • Educate Central Texans about traffic problems and solution.
  • Promote a comprehensive regional transportation plan that includes new roads, new toll roads, new rapid bus services, new passenger rail lines and other effective modes of mass transit.
  • Advocate for transparency and accountability in the financing of transportation systems.
  • Provide information regarding all financing mechanisms to pay for transportation systems.
  • Launch a web site where anyone can provide their own Take on Traffic and sign up to support the Chamber’s efforts.

In the next five years alone, there will be 130,000 cars will be added to Austin MSA streets based on population growth and current car ownership per capita – that is 25,000 cars this year, 500 this week and averaging 70 cars more at the end of each day.

Improving regional mobility is a long-term priority of Opportunity Austin, the Chamber’s five-year initiative to create 72,000 new jobs by 2008. In order to meet this goal, the transportation system in the Austin region must improve.

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, February 20, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Zilker Park - East Parking Lot (past the playground to the left)

VISUALS: 70 Cars in the Parking Lot numbered 1 -70, banner, sign

Speakers will include Chamber Chairman Roger Mitchell - president and CEO of Texas Gas Systems; Tim Crowley, 2006 Chamber Chair and President of Austin Community Banking Group – Frost Bank; Gary Farmer, Chair of Take on Traffic and President of Heritage Title Inc. of Austin; Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Greg Hartman, Senior Vice President Marketing and Planning, Seton Family of Hospitals, and Bobby Jenkins, President of ABC Pest Control