Coastal Rail Corridor board names new chairman

COAST CITIES — The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo, or LOSSAN, rail corridor agency recently selected Solana Beach Deputy Mayor Joe Kellejian chairman of its board of directors for 2011. Solana Beach resident Kellejian represents the San Diego Association of Governments, or SANDAG, on the LOSSAN Board.
“Deputy Mayor Kellejian brings a unique set of leadership skills to this position,” said Vice Chairwoman Jacki Bacharach, who represents the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the LOSSAN Joint Powers Board. “Joe has a long history of public transportation and rail experience that will be key to improving passenger rail services in Southern California in the future.”
In recommending his nomination, SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos said: “Since 2001, Joe has served as the SANDAG representative to LOSSAN and has provided an important link between our agency and the rail board. He not only represents the interests of the San Diego region, he also brings a corridorwide perspective to many initiatives – that will serve the organization well under his leadership.”
As chairman, Kellejian will oversee the launch of a new San Diego to Los Angeles express train, as well as a number of short-term service improvements for customers traveling between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. He also will guide the completion of a strategic implementation plan that will define new rail services and outline new ways of integrating services throughout the corridor.
“I am honored that the board has chosen me to serve in this important role,” Kellejian said. “The LOSSAN rail corridor agency is at an interesting point in its history — all agencies in the six-county region have agreed to a new vision for the corridor, I believe to the benefit of both existing and future customers.”
SANDAG is the San Diego region’s primary public planning, transportation, and research agency, providing the public forum for regional policy decisions about growth, transportation planning and construction, environmental management, housing, open space, energy, public safety and binational topics.