A TV, radio and billboard "advertising blitz" launched Wednesday will ask regional voters in a July 31 referendum to approve a 1-cent sales tax to fund 157 transportation projects, along with local plans.

The advocacy group Citizens for Transportation Mobility kicked off the campaign Wednesday with a press conference at the Tower Place offices of the Buckhead Coalition.

Here's a report from public radio station WABE about the news conference.

“With this ad, we’re off to the races convincing metro Atlantans that Voting Yes on July 31 will relieve congestion, create thousands of new jobs and attract rather than discourage new businesses,” said Paul Bennecke, a senior campaign strategist for CTM.

“Metro Atlanta voters will see new TV commercials encouraging them to Vote Yes to untie the traffic knot that strangles growth and costs the average commuter $924 a year in wasted fuel and lost time,” said Bennecke. “And while stuck in traffic, they’ll see billboards reminding them that a Yes Vote will get them home quicker.”

Citizens for Transportation Mobility was formed to advocate for the July 31 referendum for a penny sales levy that will generate $8.5 billion over 10 years to build more than 157 road and transit improvements throughout the region, the announcement said.

Eight-five percent of this amount will fund specific interstate highway, state highway, state roadways, transit, sidewalks, bike paths and other projects that were approved by a 21-member Regional Roundatable, consisting of mayors and county commissioners throughout the region, last October.

The remaining 15 percent will be allocated to every city and county in the region for local projects to be selected by such governments. It will go back to each jurisdiction in the region based on population and lane miles and can only be used for transportation purposes.

Midtown Patch will provide continuing coverage of the regional transportation referendum, including what it means to the Atlanta BeltLine and specific projects to better Midtown's transportation needs.

CTM’s backers include most of metro Atlanta’s major employers, the announcement said. “Traffic congestion in metro Atlanta sends fuel and manpower costs soaring,” said David Stockert, chairman of CTM. “Major employers support us because Voting Yes will bring efficiencies, considerable cost savings and more jobs.”

“The project list had the unanimous backing of the Regional Roundtable, the overwhelming support of the business community – and now citizens across the region will determine if the transportation projects will begin untying our traffic knot,” said Bennecke. “With this plan, visitors to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and metro Atlanta will help finance our transportation improvements. And accountability is built into the process with every project overseen by state agencies, annual audits to ensure projects are completed on time and on budget, and a citizen's oversight committee.”

The attached video credits Buckhead Patch editor Louis Mayeux, but it s a production of CMT.