HISTORIC FIRST FOR AC TRANSIT LEADERSHIP ON NATIONAL STAGE

HISTORIC FIRST FOR AC TRANSIT LEADERSHIP ON NATIONAL STAGE

Three of AC Transit's top leaders take seats on key APTA committees

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) Board of Directors is proud to announce a historic first for our transit district and the East Bay communities we proudly serve.

Joel B. Young, At-Large Director, has been unanimously elected Vice Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board of Directors during APTA's annual TRANSform Conference this week in Boston, Massachusetts. Director Young, who has dedicated 16 years of continuous service to AC Transit riders, is the first AC Transit Board Director ever elected to this national leadership position.

Joining Director Young in this milestone achievement, Ward 5 Director and AC Transit Board President Diane Shaw, who has served seven years on the AC Transit Board, was unanimously elected to the APTA Board of Directors as a Transit System Director.

This recent series of leadership achievements follows the earlier national appointment of General Manager and CEO Salvador Llamas as Chair of the APTA Bus Operations Committee, a vital forum addressing critical public transit issues - including recruitment and retention, funding gaps, and driver safety. Ultimately, this committee is enabling member agencies to exchange best practices and build more resilient systems.

Founded 143 years ago, APTA has long shaped the future of public transportation in the United States. Its Board of Directors establishes the strategic direction for the association, guiding federal, state, and local advocacy efforts; advancing innovations and new technologies; and delivering essential research and training. Today, APTA represents more than 320 transit agencies providing bus, light rail, commuter rail, subway, waterborne services, and intercity passenger rail across the nation.

"These historic elections help demonstrate AC Transit's deep commitment to leadership, innovation, and workforce development - core values that can now have an impact far beyond the Bay Area," said Salvador Llamas, General Manager and CEO. "Directors Young and Shaw will now help guide national transit policy at a critical time for our industry and the riders we serve."

Director Young will serve as APTA Vice Chair for 2025-2026, alongside Chair Leanne Redden, Executive Director of the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority. Jannet Walker-Ford, Business Line Executive for Advisory and Planning at WSP USA, will serve as Secretary-Treasurer for 2025-2028, and MJ Maynard-Carey, CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, will hold the role of immediate past chair.

Board President Shaw begins her three-year term as a Transit System Board Director, joining fellow board members Corey Aldridge, CEO of Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (CA); Jameson T. Auten, CEO of Lane Transit District (OR); Denise Figueroa, board member of Capital District Transportation Authority (Albany, NY); Monica Tellez-Fowler, CEO of Central Ohio Transit Authority (Columbus, OH); and Julie White, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation at NCDOT.

We applaud AC Transit's leaders for these historic milestones and their outstanding contributions toward advancing Bay Area transit.