Politics & Government

Murrieta Mayor Voted Chairman of RTA Board

Doug McAllister was unanimously elected to serve as chairman of the Riverside Transit Agency Board, an agency he has served with since 2005.

Doug McAllister, who currently serves as mayor of Murrieta, has been elected as chairman of the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) Board of Directors, a position most recently held by District 1 County Supervisor Bob Buster.

McAllister was elected to the position unanimously, said RTA Spokesperson Bradley Weaver, in a news release. The group also voted District 5 County Supervisor Marion Ashley as first vice chairman and Canyon Lake Councilman Barry Talbot as second vice chairman.

McAllister has been on the Board since 2005. As chairman, McAllister will be responsible for leading the Board in setting policy, guiding Agency priorities, conducting the Agency’s monthly Board meetings and representing the Agency at
public events, Weaver said.

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McAllister has served on the Agency’s Executive Committee and has been chairman of the Administration and Operations Committee since 2007, Weaver said.

“I am honored to be named chairman and welcome the opportunity to continue the momentum that RTA has built,” McAllister said, in the news release. “RTA is always focused on pushing the bounds of what is possible in public transportation and giving the residents of western Riverside County a world-class transit experience.”

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The new leadership comes during a particularly busy time in RTA’s history, Weaver said.

RTA recently celebrated the opening of a new transit center in Corona and has expanded its student-ride program to include Mt. San Jacinto College, which Weaver said gives more students the opportunity to ride than ever before. 

In addition, Weaver said that in 2011, RTA installed solar-powered bus stops in rural areas to aid nighttime visibility and added wireless Internet to its entire fleet of CommuterLink express buses.

"With 8.4 million boardings in 2011, ridership has hit an for the 35-year old Agency," Weaver said.

Recognition was given to Ashley and Talbot for their ongoing participation as Board members and now as first and second vice chairmen, respectively.

Since Ashley's arrival on the Board in 2003, Weaver said he has distinguished himself as a respected member of the group.

"His participation in the Executive and Budget and Finance Committee as well as his constructive comments during meetings have helped guide this Agency toward its goals and produced results that will last for years to come," Weaver said.

Further, Weaver said Talbot’s work with the RTA Board exemplifies his commitment to addressing the transit needs of western Riverside County and preserving this region’s quality of life.

"Talbot has been with the Board since 2008 and has served on the Budget and Finance Committee. Last year, he helped launch and led as chairman the Southwest Chapter of Transportation NOW, a grassroots group dedicated to supporting public transportation in the region."


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