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Austin leaders discuss new transportation projects, job growth

The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce hosted its Regional Mobility program on Monday.

AUSTIN, Texas — In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, Austin's city leaders are still looking at how to improve roads to deal with traffic. 

The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce hosted its Regional Mobility program on Monday. During the virtual event, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said after years of talking, soon Austinites are finally going to see change in the local transportation options.

"This is the time when we've put the pieces in place and we're executing," Adler said.

Adler also said plans to redesign Interstate 35 through Austin, along with the passage of Project Connect and other local mobility bonds, will lead to better transportations and job growth.

And City leaders aren't the only ones thinking about how to increase jobs in the Austin area. Tesla is moving quickly to build its new gigafactory in eastern Travis County and get people hired.

The company currently has about 100 job openings listed online for Austin. Tesla plans to partner with local high schools, colleges and training groups for recruitment.

A Tesla spokesperson who spoke at the Chamber's event on Monday said Austin could soon become a hub for clean energy technology.

"We have an obligation to future generations. We have an obligation to ourselves to clean up the air we breathe, to get the best, highest performing, safest transport methods out there," Rohan Patel said.

According to KVUE's media partners at the Austin American-Statesman, the first Texas-made Tesla vehicles could roll off factory floors as soon as next year.

WATCH: Tesla gigafactory construction, hiring continues

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