Here’s one list we don’t want to be on.

 I recently read an article claiming Austin has some of the worst congestion in the nation. Inrix, a Washington-based company that collects data from GPS installed in one million automobiles said the worst spots in Austin were at the intersection on I35 & MLK and I35 & Riverside.

A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation stated that the agency doesn’t have any plans to remedy the issues, but that TxDot will look into the situation in the near future.

 Until then, if you can avoid these two areas on I35 at major peak driving times, you may be better off!

The Chamber of Commerce just released the latest market update for our fabulous city…..

• In the past ten years, Austin’s population has increased by 487,000
• 1,000 persons per week are moving into Austin MSA
• By the year 2030, Austin’s MSA population is predicted to be 3.5 million
• Williamson County has increased by 53% since 2004
• Williamson County population is expected to be 1 million by 2030
• 20% of jobs in Austin require a Bachelor’s Degree
• 42% of workers have a Bachelor’s Degree creating approximately 80,000 workers who are underemployed
• Professional/Business Services have added the most jobs in the last 12 months
• Since 2000, Austin MSA has experienced approximately a 14% decline in hi-tech jobs
• Hi-tech compensation has declined 7% since 2000. Private sector wages have increased 6%.
• There are approximately 3000 hi-tech companies within the Austin MSA which comprise 33% of total payroll
• The average income for hi-tech workers is $80,000
• Residential building permits peaked in 2005
• Austin had an average of 4 months inventory of residential properties available for purchase in 2007. In 2008, the number increased to 4.7 months. The national average is 6 months, meaning Austin is below the average in respect to residential inventory.
• Austin is one of the nation’s biggest targets in Venture Capital
• Austin’s MSA population is less than 7% of Texas’ population, but holds 48% of Venture Capital funding in Texas
• 129 companies relocated to Austin since 2004
• 34 companies relocated to Austin from other cities within Texas. California follows in second with 29 companies relocating to Austin, and 17 companies have relocated internationally to Austin

The Chamber’s plan is to bring 72,000 jobs to Austin within the next five years