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    1. Management

    VTA Board of Directors Elects New Leadership for 2019

    Jan. 10, 2019
    The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors elected its 2019 Chair and Vice Chair at the regular December 2018 board meeting.
    Related To: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

    The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors elected its 2019 Chair and Vice Chair at the regular December 2018 board meeting. 

    Chair Sam Liccardo, Mayor of San Jose, now passes the gavel to 2018 Vice Chair Teresa O’Neill, City of Santa Clara Councilmember.

    O’Neill serves on the VTA Board of Directors representing City Group 5 (the Northeast Cities of Milpitas, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale) and was appointed in 2016. She has held leadership roles on several VTA committees including Governance and Audit, Administration and Finance and Congestion Management Program and Planning. O’Neill has also represented VTA on the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board and served on the County Expressways Policy Advisory Committee. She previously served on VTA’s Policy Advisory Committee as the City of Santa Clara’s representative.

    “It is an honor to serve as VTA Board Chair,” said O’Neill. “Over the coming year, the Board will work with staff to stabilize VTA’s fiscal outlook while advancing solutions that address traffic congestion. Together with the communities we serve, we must design an effective transportation network that’s fast and convenient to use.” O’Neill adds, “Regional transportation improvements are key to Silicon Valley’s success. I am all in to build the partnerships needed for those solutions throughout Santa Clara County and beyond.”

    The Board also elected Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez as Vice Chair. Chavez serves on the VTA Board of Directors representing City Group 6 (Santa Clara County) and was appointed in 2013. Chavez has served with VTA on and off for almost 20 years, including her time as a San Jose City Councilmember. She served as Board Chair twice, in 2006 and 2016, and has served as chairperson of various VTA committees including Safety, Security and Transit Operations and Administration & Finance. She has also served on ad hoc committees as well as regional boards such as the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board and policy advisory boards such as the Diridon Joint Policy Advisory Board and Eastridge to BART Regional Connector. 

    "I am looking forward to serving as VTA Vice Chair,” said Chavez. “We have a lot of impactful work to do over the next year, including finding innovative solutions to our financial situation and moving forward with BART Phase II with as little disruption to businesses and residents as possible."