Passenger Rail & Ferry Operator Group

Seamus Murphy, Executive Director, San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority

I have been fortunate to represent the state’s rail and ferry operators on the CTA Executive Committee for the past two years, and I would be honored to serve in that role for another term as our industry continues to navigate unprecedented challenges. As a member of the CTA Transit Operations Funding Subcommittee, I was proud to help guide the organization’s advocacy efforts, and to contribute to what would eventually become the successful restoration of previously committed transit capital funding, the addition of new funding to preserve transit service as federal COVID relief funds are exhausted, and the establishment of flexibility to allow regions to utilize those funds to meet their unique, and most pressing priorities. Moving forward, you have my continued commitment to keep our rail and ferry caucus members aware and engaged about key decisions as they arise and to be a strong advocate for our shared priorities and the industry as a whole.

Medium Size Operator Group

Alex Clifford, CEO, San Joaquin Regional Transit District

I am seeking reelection to the Association’s Executive Committee (Medium-Size Transit Operators).

I am a 30+ years transit professional, having served in the 1990s as an elected official on various transit/transportation Boards and Commissions, and on the administrative side as a General Manager/CEO of both bus and rail agencies - large, medium, and small.

Over the past two years I have attended all Executive Committee meetings with the exception of those few meetings that conflicted with my regularly scheduled Board meetings or a planned vacation.  In addition, I have continued to be an active member and participant on CTA’s State Legislative Committee.  Those of you who know me know that I am a passionate advocate for the small and mid-size transit agencies, advocating for new transit funding and continued growth in existing funding sources for transit - all ships rise.

I support bus on shoulder; I advocate for legislation that can result in lower electric rates and resiliency for electric buses; I regularly advocate for CARB to pump the brakes on the upcoming zero emission bus purchase mandates; I oppose legislation that results in unfunded mandates; and I oppose state legislation that may conflict with long established federal Regulations.  I hope you will agree that these positions are consistent with the collective interests of small and mid-size transit agencies.

In closing, the challenges ahead are many - Together we will get through this.  In the days, months and years to come, we must work together to grow ridership and transit funding.  We must identify new and innovative ways to resolve the ongoing bus operator shortage, fiscal structural deficits and the budget and service impacts of supply chain issues and inflation…just to name a few.

As always, please feel free to contact me to share your thoughts about the CTA or CTA’s legislative activities. Thank you for your consideration.
 

Kenneth McDonald, President and CEO, Long Beach Transit

With my over 30 years of leadership experience in the public transit industry, I believe that I am an ideal candidate for the role. I am a results oriented, self-driven person who brings well-developed critical thinking and analytical skills with the fundamental ability to solve complex personnel and organizational problems. I am Kenneth McDonald and have served as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Long Beach Transit since August 2013. I have extensive experience in both the public and private sectors of transportation. I have led and overseen transit programs and projects as Vice-President for Transit and Rail Systems for Parsons Brinkerhoff (now WSP). I have held executive leadership positions of Chief Operating Officer at SFMTA in San Francisco and Assistant General Manager of Operations at MARTA in Atlanta and led these agencies to operational excellence. 

During my current term representing medium size agencies on the CTA Executive Board of Directors, I have displayed my: 

• Proactive approach to resolving issues with political representatives and their staff to encourage increased funding for public transit.  
• Positive work ethics while executing the vision and mission of CTA to further the objectives of the association. 
• Commitment and support to CTA’s strategic plan as we concentrate on the value, betterment, and promotion of public transit in California.  
• Focused determination to see CTA succeed through education and advocacy about transit issues, challenges and opportunities. 
• Dedication and drive to represent the needs of all of California’s public transit agencies to be the first mobility option of choice.    

I am dedicated to “support the needs of California’s public transit systems through advocacy and education” of elected and public officials, stakeholders, community partners and transit customers.  I take CTA’s core values of ethical behavior, integrity and accountability as part of my personal value system. I believe that inclusivity and diversity must be guiding principles of CTA and the executive committee. Diversity of people and thoughts are crucial for transit to survive in our constantly changing and evolving industry. I believe that public transit is a vehicle for community enhancements, business development and economic vitality within any municipality in the United States and I am ready to serve on CTA’s executive committee and make a difference in the lives of the people we serve through public transportation.
 

Erin Rogers, CEO/General Manager, Omnitrans

I currently serve on the Executive Committee of the California Transit Association as a representative of the medium-size operator caucus. I also serve as the Chair of the Operations Committee. I am asking for your support to continue to serve on the Executive Committee for the 2023-2025 term. 

With over 30 years of service to the industry, working in both the private and public sectors, my commitment to the industry and breadth of experience uniquely qualifies me for this role.  I currently serve as the CEO/General Manager of Omnitrans in San Bernardino, California.  Prior to joining Omnitrans I held the position of Assistant General Manager, Transit at the Orange County Transportation Authority. In addition, I have worked in the private sector as Regional Vice President for MV Transportation and as Consultant/Trainer for Insight Strategies. I bring my experience and insight from each of these roles to the Executive Committee. 

I seek to continue to serve on the Executive Committee to represent the mid-size operator caucus in strategic and policy-level discussions regarding the critical issues facing the Association and the industry. I believe my input, insight, and recommendations will assist in advocacy on behalf of our industry. It is a critical time to ensure policies and proposed laws and regulations improve, not impede the future of the transit industry.  I am solution oriented and a strategic thinker. I will work collaboratively with Association staff, my peers, elected officials and other stakeholders to further the goals of the Association and strengthen and improve the future of public transportation. It has been a privilege to be part of this committee and to support an Association that promotes and advocates for the interests of the public transportation industry and the transit riders we serve. I will continue to work diligently on behalf of the mid-size operators, the Association and the industry. 

Thank you for your consideration and support.
 

Carl Sedoryk, General Manager/CEO, Monterey-Salinas Transit 

I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve on the California Transit Association, Executive Committee representing medium sized transit operators, and ask for your consideration to be reelected to the committee.

Working in public transit operations in both large urban and rural areas for 35 years has provided me with a unique set of skills to draw upon to help the Association’s Executive Committee, the membership we represent, and the communities we serve to achieve the mission and strategic goals of the Association. With 12 years employed at Long Beach Transit, a medium sized operator in the Los Angeles region, and 23 years at Monterey-Salinas Transit, a small urban and rural operator on the Central Coast, I have gained a unique perspective of the challenges of operating transit in large urban areas as well smaller, rural environments. This has allowed me to better understand the impacts of state legislative and regulatory proposals in these very different types of areas.

I have served on the Association Executive Committee since 2005 and acted its Chair from 2017 – 2019 where I helped develop language to establish the Innovative Clean Transit Rule, SB1 funding programs, and have been deeply involved in the ongoing litigation between the State of California and the US Department of Labor over pension reform, (aka PEPRA).

Over the years I have served on the Association Program Committee, Finance and Management Committee, State Legislative Committee, Federal Legislative Committee. Members of my team and I are frequently asked to share our experiences during Association conferences and webinars.  I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving on the Association Executive Committee.
 

Small Size Operator Group

John Andoh, Transit General Manager, Redding Area Bus Authority

John is a young, enthusiastic transit professional with twenty-three years of experience in the public transit industry.  John presently serves as the Transit General Manager for the Redding Area Bus Authority in Redding, CA and also serves as a part time transit manager for the Cities of Burlington, NC and Escalon, CA. 

John is a very strong advocate of public transportation and he strive to use buses, trains and ferries as much as he can to show support towards public transit, including commuting to and from work on public transit and interacting with the riders that he serve.  

My focus, if elected to serve on the Executive Committee is to represent well the small urban and rural providers in Northern California in regarding to working with others in solving funding challenges, regulatory requirements, zero emission bus transition, reviewing legislation impacts and be a voice for rural and small urban providers in Northern California. 

Public transit has been a true passion of John since he was 13 years old, growing up riding Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority services and volunteering there as a summer intern. His work includes transit planning & transit capital projects, transit IT projects, contract management, and direct operations of fixed route and paratransit service.  John’s experience spans small urban, large urban, and rural transit systems with the implementation, planning, and management, strategic planning and providing leadership of fixed route, demand response, taxi scrip, mileage reimbursement, vanpool, and dial-a-ride services to address the transportation needs of the communities by innovating transit agencies to be mobility agencies and is a very innovative, creative and outside the box thinker.   He is a Certified Community Transit Manager and Supervisor from the Community Transportation Association of America.  He has a masters of science in Public Administration and a graduate certificate in Transportation Management. 

Adam Barth, Chief Executive Officer, Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority

My years of experience in both private and public modes of transportation have given me the drive to continue efforts to improve services and get more people riding the system.  I have a passion for public transportation, a firm understanding of how smaller transit systems operate, and a strong grasp of the policy and budgetary processes necessary for the job. Starting as a bus driver 20+ years ago and working in different positions both in public and private transportation companies, these experiences has given me the understanding to both lead my organization but also provide valuable insight into public transit policy, funding and operations in California. I’m currently the Chief Executive Officer for the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority, which was formed in 2021 consolidating transit systems in Stanislaus County. 

Public transit is a lifeline for many individuals who rely on frequent, convenient, quick, and cost-effective transportation. In Stanislaus County, we’ve felt the effects the pandemic has had on the industry from ridership declines and staffing shortages but are now seeing positive improvements to ridership that are now exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The recent consolidation of transit services in Stanislaus County has created new partnerships, new transit connections and a unified regional brand that gives riders an easy-to-use alternative to a personal vehicle. 

I would be honored to have your vote to help continue making public transportation a priority for California and represent the small transit agencies in our state.
 

Martin Erickson, Executive Director, Ventura County Transportation Commission

The combination of my work experience, education and deep understanding of California’s transit history and needs make me uniquely qualified to serve on CTA’s Executive Committee representing Ventura County. As the Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), I serve a 17-member board of directors that reflects Ventura County’s diverse transportation and transit needs. In many respects, Ventura County is a microcosm of California (with urban, rural, coastal, agricultural, and suburban elements). Finding and forging transportation solutions across our county has been a compelling challenge, yet we have achieved success despite the enormous challenges of the past few years.  My previous experience as a Deputy City Manager for the City of Oxnard also gives me an important understanding of the needs of cities, critical partners for CTA and for the renewal and re-birth of effective transit. Additionally, my thirty plus years of legislative advocacy ranging from chambers of commerce, transit districts, counties, cities, and now VCTC gives me a unique perspective having seen what’s worked well, and what has not, in California’s transit history. While my communication and team building skills have allowed me to forge coalitions out of multiple stakeholders, often with competing interests, I believe my greatest strength is creativity through developing and implementing innovative mobility policies and practices. SB 125 requires innovative leadership and creative transit solutions to tackle our mobility challenges and as a member the CTA Executive Committee team I can help deliver those results. Thank you for your support.
 

Jerry Estrada,  General Manager, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District

It’s been my honor to share the interest, concerns and successes of small operators as one of your representatives to the Executive Committee.  I have been an active member of the Small Operators Committee throughout my 34-years of service in public transit.  Additionally, I serve as a member of the Zero-Emission Task Force, and Transit Operations Funding Subcommittee, providing a small operator’s perspective to the discussions. 

By serving on the aforementioned committees, I feel it provides me the opportunity to hear firsthand the insight and challenges faced by our fellow small operators, and in turn work with CTA leadership to advocate for solutions to benefit our industry and the public we serve.  For small operators in rural communities the implementation of the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation and bus operator shortage appear to be top of the list of challenges to be addressed.  Meanwhile, small operators such as the agency I represent that serve small urban communities with a university and community college face an uncertain long-term (3-4 years) financial future.   

Through the work of the Transit Operations Funding Subcommittee this past year, and the leadership of the CTA team, I feel our industry accomplished a great deal by securing transit funding that had been jeopardized by the projected budget deficit in Sacramento. Much needed capital funding will flow to transit operators throughout the State to assist with implementation of the ICT regulation with the flexibility to allocate funds to assist transit operators in need of immediate financial assistance.

Bus operator shortages and the rising costs of service delivery is now the norm across the State, and I believe it is incumbent upon our Association to continue to share this reality. If you chose to re-elect me as one of your representatives, I will convey and support your successes, challenges and interests with CTA leadership.
 

Ben Gonzales, Deputy Public Works Director, City of Simi Valley

I would like to express my interest for CTA’s Executive Committee, representing Ventura County.  If elected, I will strive to help advocate our agencies interests and goals of becoming more efficient and effective to better serve our respective comminutes.  I look forward to sharing my passion and knowledge in paratransit and fixed-route services by collaborating with other agencies and by supporting each other in our needs.

I want to serve on the board to assist my fellow members by providing assistance with advocacy on transportation challenges that may arise, such as our journey to transition to zero emission vehicles, transit funding, and passenger ridership.  

I believe that my background and experience can truly be an asset to the Association’s Committee.  My qualifications include twenty-five (25) years of transit experience in fixed-route and paratransit services, which includes operations, administrative oversight, and capital project implementation. I am currently the Deputy Director for the City of Simi Valley Transit and have direct oversight of the division with a fleet size of 25 vehicles.  Additionally, I have experience in managing transit in the private and public sector.     

Thank you for your consideration. 

Karen King, Chief Executive Officer, Golden Empire Transit District

I have once again thrown my hat into the ring to serve as your representative on the California Transit Association Executive Committee. I do this enthusiastically and with great passion for the industry in which we all work. 

For those who do not know me, I am the CEO of Golden Empire Transit District in Bakersfield. We are a small operator that operates service on 16 fixed routes with 90 forty-foot buses and On Demand comingled microtransit service with a fleet of 34 small vehicles. We directly operate all of our services. 

Throughout my thirty-seven years here in California, I have served on the California Transit Association Executive Committee several times representing both mid-size and small operators. I have served on the Executive Committee the past eight years and on the Small Operators Committee the past ten years. During the 2022-2023 term I served as the Chair of your Association and would desire to continue my service as the most recent Past Chair. I say all this to show that I would provide continuity for the Executive Committee were I to be elected. 

I think it is important to have geographical representation on the Executive Committee and therefore ask that you support my nomination. I think there are important issues facing our industry both at the state and at federal level in the upcoming two years and desire to ensure that the small operators have a voice. I can be that voice. Please cast your vote for me. 

Kate Miller, Executive Director, Napa Valley Transportation Authority

I would be honored and privileged to serve California’s small public transit systems as a member of the CTA’s Executive Committee.  I was appointed by the CTA Executive Committee twice to complete vacated terms and was directly elected by the state’s small operators in 2017, 2019 and 2021.  Collectively I have served almost 9 years on the Executive Committee.  I also currently serve on the Finance and Management Committee (9 years) and I am currently the Chair of the Small Operators’ Committee. This year I have been working with other members of the Executive Committee and members of the Legislative Committee on the Transit Operations Funding Subcommittee addressing the Fiscal Cliff and associated labor shortages.
 
I have also had the privilege to serve on CTA’s Legislative Committee for over 5 years while at AC Transit. I also served on the ad hoc committee that oversaw the consultant selection and review of the report on the state’s transit capital shortfall.  Recently, I chaired the CTA Governance and Finance Task Force adding a new membership group that provides public transit services outside the traditional model and reclassified CTA membership tiers.

My work experience is diverse and I bring a unique and varied background from policy, finance, planning, project management, and operations. I currently serve as the Executive Director of the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA).  NVTA is both the public transit provider for Napa County (Napa VINE) and the Congestion Management Agency.  As part of my responsibilities to advance Napa Valley’s transportation interests I am on the executive committees for the Self Help Counties Coalition and the California Council of Governments – both of which are key legislative partners of the California Transit Association.  I am also the Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Partnership Board – a policy body made up of the 9 San Francisco Bay Area County transportation agencies’ executive leadership.

I have held my current position with NVTA for 11 years.   My previous experience includes managing the Bay Area’s transit capital program for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and serving as the Capital Planning, Legislation and Grants manager for AC Transit.  My work at NVTA broadens my perspective on managing transportation and balancing modes with relatively modest financial means.  I’ve always been up for a challenge and thrive in any role that requires creativity and partnership to succeed. 

Vanessa Rauschenberger, General Manager, Gold Coast Transit District

As the General Manager of the Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), in Ventura County, California, I am excited to submit my candidacy for election to the Executive Committee of the California Transit Association. With close to two decades of experience in public transit and transportation planning, I aim to bring fresh insights and creativity to the committee. Despite being a newer General Manager, I offer a unique perspective gained from working in diverse environments, from suburbs to urban centers, and understand the different challenges they face.  My skill set includes multi-modal planning expertise and creative problem-solving, open and direct communication, which I'm eager to leverage collaboratively with fellow members to address our shared industry’s needs.

My primary areas of focus are:

• Transit Workforce Development & Fostering an Engaging Workplace Culture
• Creative Strategies to Enhance Revenues
• Advancing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnerships and Repurposing CNG Stations
• Advocating for Transit-Oriented Development & Transit Supportive Regions

Before taking on the role of General Manager at GCTD in March 2022, I served as the Director of Planning & Marketing. In this capacity, I refined my skills in transit system development, communications, and customer service. My career also includes experiences as an Associate Planner/Project Manager in New York City, where I worked on pedestrian projects and safe routes to schools. Additionally, I served as an Urban Mapping Instructor at the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment. My educational background encompasses a bachelor's degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master's in Urban Planning from CUNY's Hunter College. In my free time, I actively participate in the Ventura County Civic Alliance, a regional non-profit dedicated to fostering public dialogue around the three E's: Economy, Environment, and Equity.

I look forward to working with the committee to continue their great work in steering California’s public transportation toward a brighter future.

Governing Board Group

Doran Barnes, Board Vice Chair, Access Services

Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy to serve as a board member representative on the California Transit Association’s Executive Committee. I would very much welcome the opportunity to continue to serve our Association and to support our industry. 

My involvement with our Association spans almost forty years! I currently serve as the Chair of the Association’s Zero Emission Bus Taskforce and as a member of the Finance and Management Committee. I have previously served as a member of the Executive Committee including serving as Chair. 

For the past eighteen years, I have served as member of the Board of Directors of Access Services. Access Services is an independent public agency that provides complementary paratransit services for the transit operators in Los Angeles County. The organization is a partnership of the 44 fixed route transit operators and has an annual budget of $252 million. I currently represent four of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board Members on the Access Services Board and do so separate from any other position I hold.  

In the industry, I am fortunate to hold several key positions. In addition to my role on the board at Access Services, I currently serve as the Chief Executive Officer for Foothill Transit in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County. It is in this capacity that I have served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Treasurer and Chair of the American Public Transportation Association. 
 
The future of our industry in California presents us with many challenges and opportunities. Perhaps our most pressing issue is evolving both our services and the way that those services are funded following the crisis of the pandemic. This ear is being shaped by increasing capital costs and decreasing farebox revenues. A second opportunity and challenge is figuring out how to cost-effectively comply with the California Air Resources Board’s Innovating Clean Transit Rule.  In addition, it has been an honor to be part of the IDEA Taskforce and I look forward to continuing to promote inclusion, diversity and equity in all the work that we have underway. 

Through our collective engagement in the California Transit Association, we will be able to address these challenges in ways that single transit systems simply could not. This ranges from the Association’s advocacy work in Sacramento to the exchange of information and ideas. We are all able to be more effective and to better serve our communities because of our collective efforts via the California Transit Association. I look forward to being part of the leadership team that will advance our efforts over the next two years. 

Again, thank you for your consideration. If I can answer any questions regarding my interest in this position, please do not hesitate to contact me at (626) 931-7200 or dbarnes@foothilltransit.org. 

Pam O’Connor, Director (Alternate), Metrolink - Southern California Regional Rail Authority

I am seeking your support for one of the Governing Board member positions on the CTA Executive Committee. I am a passionate supporter of public transportation and currently serve on the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Metrolink, as an alternate Director.  Our public transit agencies must work together and build strong coalitions to foster and support public transportation. In addition to advocating for funding for transit, we must work to ensure that state and federal policies and regulations support transit operations, equity, and innovation. 

I am a passionate advocate for public transportation – and am a regular user of transit. We need to grow our relationship with organizations that support transit, including  groups such as transit advocates, public health community, active transportation, new mobility, and organizations that support youth, seniors and those with special needs. 

I bring knowledge in transportation policy from my experience having served as a Governing Board Member of public agencies that provide bus, light rail, heavy rail, and regional rail public transportation as an elected official in Santa Monica. I understand the importance of partnerships having served on the MPO for my region, the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council and as its President as well as on the Board and President of CalCog, the association of California’s Councils of Government.

I believe public transit is not only an essential service, but also integral to community livability and economic prosperity. I ask for your vote so we can work together to strengthen our public transit systems throughout California.
 

Supplier Group

John Drayton, Principal, Burns Engineering

I have had the priveledge of serving two terms as a transit industry representative on the California Transit Association’s Executive Committee.

One of my key roles on the CTA executive committee has been representing the interests of a large, diverse business community that supports the California transit industry. During my last term, this included serving as the business/industry representative to CTA’s strategic planning update.

During my 30+ years working in the California transit industry, I’ve had opportunities to work directly with many of your firms. For those that I have not yet worked with, I look forward to finding new opportunities to work together.

Thank you for your support.
 

Bill Fay, Vice President-Sales, Gillig

I would like to present my qualifications for your consideration to be elected to the CTA Executive Committee. 

GILLIG, the prominent bus OEM in CA, has been seated on the CTA Executive Committee for many years protecting the interests of business members.  I wish to continue that responsibility as we move forward into the changing dynamics of our transportation industry. With my 30+ years industry experience, I will be a vital contributor to the CTA Executive Committee. My career diversification as a supplier, a manufacturer’s rep and a bus OEM, have allowed me to play an influential part in the success of many major industry business members. I have developed a passion for making transportation more accessible to all transit riders, leveraging technology to improve efficiency and information to the passenger which contributes to the positive economic impact that transit has on each community. As our industry continues to embrace and advocate for new technological advancements, we need to ensure that the appropriate technology is adopted and advanced, the voice of the business members and riding public is embraced, reauthorization initiatives are absolutely achieved, and environmental goals are both supported and properly funded. As a group, we must continue to embrace outreach into the communities to recruit and train a diverse next generation of leadership that is so critical to our industry. As a very significant OEM in the industry, a GILLIG voice on CTA Executive Committee represents a large number of business members that is so vital to our industry’s success and the cause of the CTA.

I currently hold the position of Vice President, Sales for GILLIG LLC and report directly to our CEO Derek Manus.   GILLIG is and always has been a CTA member in good standing and an active contributor to the association in many ways. As your Business Member representative, I will make sure that the business members will continue to be prominent and heard within the association.

In my Senior position at GILLIG and in my prior positions I have attended and participated in the majority of CTA Annual Meetings, APTA Annual Meetings, APTA Expos, APTA Bus and Paratransit Conferences, State Conferences throughout the US (such as California, Florida, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Washington, etc) and many technical and specification committees.  My senior executive level position at GILLIG permits me to make decisions that provide for positive contributions that impact both our industry and all business members. My work ethic and commitment to the association would be unwavering and my solid relationships with many of the business members would enhance the team approach that supports the CTA mission. 

In closing, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve you and ask for your vote.

Sasha Pejcic, Managing Partner, North America, BetterFleet

For nearly two decades, I have worked tirelessly to support transit across different progressing roles.  My transit career started planning bus and rail rapid transit projects on the public sector side, but then transitioned to the private sector side where I have held progressing careers ranging from management consulting for transit, to leading a global bus practice, to now leading a company that solely focuses on the transition to zero emission buses and vehicles. I have worked with hundreds of transit agencies across the world, and many in California, on wide-spanning projects such as transit/service planning, fare policy, customer satisfaction, operational reviews, maintenance reviews and zero emission bus transitions and implementations. With this experience I bring strong knowledge of California, and the challenges of delivering equitable services for all, at a time when funding is shrinking for vital transit services.

My desire to serve on the Executive Committee of the California Transit Association is sincere. I want to give back to the industry I love, in the state I love. I have been heavily involved in the California Transit Association for the past seven years participating actively on almost most committees at some point - operations, finance/audit, maintenance, business members, and the zero-emission vehicle committee – and have helped plan numerous conferences and attract speakers for sessions, during this time.  Given my proactive involvement in the association having been across many committees and having helped plan conferences, I believe I have a lot to offer as part of the Executive Committee. In addition, I currently sit on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Public Transit Association in Canada and represent business members as the Chair of the Business Members Committee – this enables me to bring different viewpoints that may not be considered in the California context for the benefit of the Executive Committee and association. 

My interests are the same as those of the transit riders, transit agencies, private service contractors and the industry’s equipment and service providers: to ensure the continuation of adequate funding for California’s public transit services.  I am committed to raising the awareness of the California Transit Association among policymakers and opinion leaders, and to improve the association’s effectiveness in advancing the interests of public transit. I respectfully ask for your support during the Executive Committee Election.
 

Transit Support Group

Victoria Stackwick, Chief of Staff, SANDAG

Thank you for the opportunity to represent SANDAG on the California Transit Association’s Executive Committee under the Transit Support Group. I have been a part of the CTA team since starting my career in San Diego in 2006. I have seen firsthand the transformation of the Association into a relevant outcome driven group, that is no longer simply responding to proposed legislation but also formulating innovative approaches to complicated issues including funding. It is my hope that working together we can advance our agenda and ensure that transit is a priority. SANDAG has a unique role in transit project implementation, and I look forward to sharing these resources with my colleagues on CTA.