The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has selected Martin Erickson as its new executive director. Erickson currently is the public transit director for VCTC, Ventura County’s regional transportation planning agency.
Erickson was selected after a four-month recruitment process that drew more than 30 applicants. The commission interviewed the final two candidates in closed session during a special meeting Dec. 16.
The commission will consider approval of a formal employment agreement during its regular monthly meeting, 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7 held via Zoom. The agenda is available on the VCTC website.
“Mr. Erickson has a deep understanding of transportation and public transit issues,” said Kelly Long, Ventura County supervisor and VCTC. “His knowledge of Ventura County combined with his experience building partnerships with local, regional and state agencies makes him the ideal candidate for this position.”
Erickson joined VCTC as public transit director in 2016. He oversees all VCTC programs related to public transit, including Intercity bus service, Regional Transit Technology and Rideshare, as well as VCTC’s partnerships with regional bus and passenger rail operators.
Most recently, Erickson coordinated the rollout of VCbuspass, VCTC’s new regional bus pass and contactless payment system. He also leads VCTC’s Transit Integration and Efficiency Study, a project aimed at identifying potential improvements in local and regional bus transit.
Erickson serves on the federal legislative committee of the California Transit Association, a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of transit agencies.
“I am grateful for the confidence the commission has placed in me to continue my public service journey as VCTC’s next executive director. I am excited to work with and lead such a dedicated team of professionals that comprise the VCTC staff,” Erickson said.
Erickson has some 25 years of public transit and transportation experience, including as manager of government affairs at the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District and deputy city manager for the city of Oxnard, where his responsibilities included management of the city’s transit services program.
Just before joining VCTC, he was deputy CEO for Santa Barbara County. He started his career as director of government affairs at the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce.
Erickson received a bachelor’s degree in history from UCSB and a master’s in management, economics and politics from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Erickson succeeds Darren Kettle, who was named CEO of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) in September. Mark Watkins, former city manager for the city of Ventura, has served as VCTC’s interim executive director since September.
“On behalf of the commission, I extend our sincerest thanks to Mr. Watkins,” Long said. “His leadership and experience helped keep VCTC operating smoothly during the search for a new executive director, and we are grateful for his service.”