Young Chamber Supports Proposition A, Project Connect

Austin Young Chamber of Commerce Sep 30th, 2020 Advocacy, AYC News Share

WHEREAS, for decades, Austinites have desired more transportation options to address our growing traffic challenges;

WHEREAS, the Austin Young Chamber’s Economic Development Committee reviewed Prop A and the Project Connect system, and recommended to the Board of Directors that the Chamber endorse;

WHEREAS, Austin Young Chamber members favored Project Connect in the September 2020 membership survey;

WHEREAS, Central Texas’ population is expected to double over the next 20 years, while road capacity is expected to grow only 15% (*Source: CAMPO 2040 Regional Plan, page 50.);

WHEREAS, a comprehensive, city-wide transit system will lead to new jobs and opportunities;

WHEREAS, an efficient transportation system for our City and region must include separate, dedicated pathways for cars, transit, bikes, and pedestrians, instead of all modes of transportation sharing the same portions of the road;

WHEREAS, the Project Connect plan was developed through an extensive public input process and is more geographically expansive than previous plans in serving the city of Austin;

WHEREAS, the Project Connect plan incorporates an emphasis on quality of life, economic diversity and equity;

WHEREAS, the implementation of Project Connect would help individuals access consistent, equitable and affordable options for transportation to support economic advancement and mobility;

WHEREAS, the significant investment of $300MM to prevent displacement along the new transportation corridors is important to ensure transportation can provide economic opportunity;

WHEREAS, the Project Connect plan increases economic equality for individuals who may not have access to emerging transportation technologies;

WHEREAS, the Austin Young Chamber values transportation as a utility and a public service good and the Project Connect plan is a public transit option that fills a demand private transportation options are not meant to serve;

WHEREAS, buses and trains fundamentally have capacity to transport more individuals than cars, and reduce reliance on any one form of transportation, increasing efficiency and transit alternatives for residents;

WHEREAS, the Project Connect plan would provide needed infrastructure for Austin to serve as a global destination city and be more competitive in the world market for economic development, new businesses, tourism, etc;

WHEREAS, Austin’s workforce could have a reliable, consistent commute and the plan would make Austin a more attractive place to live;

WHEREAS, the Austin Young Chamber supports the tax increase called for in Prop A;

NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED:

The Austin Young Chamber formally endorses the Project Connect Tax Rate Election to fund the initial investment in the Project Connect system plan to be held on November 3, 2020 as an essential plan for Austin and an integral component of a regional mobility system.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

The Austin Young Chamber Board of Directors strongly urges the Austin City Council to put public policies in place that increase density and transit-oriented development along transit corridors to maximize taxpayer investment in the Project Connect System Plan.

ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AUSTIN YOUNG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE