Much of the region's public transportation work, previously done by three public agencies, is now being consolidated under the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) because of a new state law.

By the end of this year, all bus, trolley, and commuter rail planning, financing, and design and construction work will be the responsibility of SANDAG. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) and the North San Diego County Transit Development Board (NCTD) will continue to provide day-to-day transit operations.

To expedite the consolidation, some of the staff from the three agencies are being combined into SANDAG. Eric Pahlke has been promoted and will now work as the SANDAG Chief Deputy Executive Director for Operations. Pahlke has worked for the regional agency since 1989, most recently as the Director of Transportation.

Tom Larwin has joined SANDAG as the agency's Chief Deputy Executive Director for Transition and Policy after working for MTDB for nearly three decades. Larwin has been the agency's General Manager since 1979.

Dr. Jeff Tayman was recently promoted to Department Director of Technical Services. Tayman, who holds a Ph.D. in sociology, has worked at SANDAG since 1982 in research and information systems development.

Bob Leiter was selected to serve as SANDAG's Department Director of Land Use and Transportation Planning. Leiter worked most recently for the City of Chula Vista as the Director of the Planning and Building Department. He has worked in leadership roles in municipal planning since 1974.

Jack Boda joined SANDAG as the agency's Department Director of Mobility Management and Project Implementation. Boda worked for the California Department of Transportation for the past 25 years, most recently as the State Traffic Engineer responsible for the safety and operations of California's highways.

Renee Wasmund has joined the SANDAG team as the Department Director of Finance after working for MTDB since 1990. Wasmund was the transit agency's Finance Manager from 1990 to 1993 and most recently its Director of Finance and Administration.

Leslie Campbell, formerly SANDAG's Administration and Finance Director, has been promoted to the agency's Department Director of Administration. Campbell, who has nearly 30 years of experience in public sector administration, spent the last 12 years of her career with the California Department of Transportation.

"The consolidation allows SANDAG to mesh transportation planning, programming, project development, and construction, while better linking land use and transportation public policy decisions," said SANDAG Executive Director, Gary Gallegos. He added, "The consolidation affords SANDAG the opportunity to bring experts together to provide 'one-stop shopping' to help meet commuters' transportation needs."