RTC appoints new interim executive director
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission has found a new leader for the time being.
The local agency appointed former California Transportation Commission Executive Director Mitch Weiss as its new interim executive director, according to a release from the commission. Weiss temporarily takes over for Guy Preston — who was executive director for five years before retiring Dec. 1 — while it continues its search for a permanent replacement.
Weiss has more than 20 years of experience as a transportation leader in California, according to the release, and has worked on nearly every one of the state's major transportation funding programs. In addition to his time heading up the state commission, Weiss also served as Chief Deputy Director and Deputy Director as well as Deputy Secretary for Administration and Finance for the State Transportation Agency. He also held several positions at the California Department of Transportation or Caltrans.
“Mitch Weiss will make a great interim executive director for the RTC. His background in economics means the Commission can count on him for clear and unbiased presentation of the facts,” said Manu Koenig, current chair of the Santa Cruz commission in the release. “His experience at the CTC managing state awards totaling over $20 billion means that Santa Cruz County will have additional insight as we navigate grant applications. Finally, he has firsthand experience with reorganizations, meaning that he will bring valuable perspective to the RTC as we consider our own structural changes.”
While at the California Transportation Commission, Weiss led the agency's implementation of Senate Bill 1, which provided the first significant, stable and ongoing increase in state transportation funding in more than two decades. This effort, according to the release, culminated in the programming of nearly $18 billion across six programs in 13 months. He also led development of the Active Transportation Program which funds more than $220 million annually for transportation projects throughout California and managed the approximately $5 billion State Transportation Improvement Program.
Moreover, while at the state's Administration and Finance for State Transportation Agency, Weiss was responsible for fiscal policy and administrative and personnel matters for the agency and departments under its umbrella including Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, Department of Motor Vehicles and High-Speed Rail Authority. He also co-authored the first Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program guidelines.
“I appreciate the trust placed in me by the commission and am excited to help guide the RTC in its continued work to develop and deliver sustainable transportation solutions to the region as the commission searches for a permanent executive director,” Weiss said in the release.
Weiss, who retired from the California Transportation Commission in March, will take a seat at his interim desk in Santa Cruz starting Thursday and will report directly to the transportation commission's board of directors.