The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority welcomed new leadership to its Board of Directors Thursday by appointing Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager Chairman. Yeager has served on the board for the past 11 years, most recently as vice chair last year. Town of Los Gatos council member Joe Pirzynski, who chaired the VTA Board in 2005, was appointed vice chair.
“2012 will be a banner year for VTA,” said Yeager. “This year, the agency will break ground on projects that include bringing BART to San Jose and creating the county’s first bus rapid transit corridor.”
In his speech upon being elected chair, Yeager emphasized that VTA will be working to change the Bay Area’s transportation political and administrative landscape. The agency is working to create a Caltrans Innovative district for this county that would streamline operations and result in the completion of more projects on time and on budget. Passage of Assembly Bill 57 in the State Legislature would create fairer representation for Santa Clara County on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the regional agency responsible for transportation funding.
“I believe that it is crucial that Santa Clara County receive its equitable share of transportation dollars,” Yeager said.
Yeager was first elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 2006. Previously, he served six years on the San Jose City Council. He is a member of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers (Caltrain) Board and a governor’s appointee to the California Air Resources Board, the statewide agency responsible reducing air pollution and combating global warming.
“VTA is playing a critical role in ensuring that our county has a sustainable future,” said Yeager. “Improved traffic flow and increased transit ridership are critical elements to reducing greenhouse gas emission in Santa Clara County.”
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