One by one, members of the VTA Board of Directors paid tribute to the agency’s longest-serving board member, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, at Chavez’s last board meeting, Thursday, November 7, 2024, starting with Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee. “Her energy is boundless and when she has a good idea she’ll keep going and going,” Lee said. “VTA and Santa Clara County is certainly a better place because of your leadership.”
Scheduled to term out at the end of this year, Chavez has taken a position as Bernalillo County Manager, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was set to start her new position Wednesday, November 13. Vice Chair Sergio Lopez, Vice Mayor of the City of Campbell, was elected to take over as Chair six weeks earlier than normal, because of Chavez’s departure shortly before the end of her term. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan was elected VTA’s Vice Chair. Their terms began November 13.
Chavez dedicated over 20 years to improving public transportation in Santa Clara County. Throughout her remarkable career, Chavez served as Chair of the VTA Board a record four times—2006, 2016, 2020, and 2024—and as Vice Chair prior to those years.
Chavez first joined the VTA Board in 1999 as a San José City Councilmember, where she represented Downtown San José. After being elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 2013, she continued her service on the VTA Board until 2024. Throughout her time at VTA, Chavez has been a passionate advocate for the agency, its employees, and passengers throughout Santa Clara County.
“Cindy has been VTA’s biggest cheerleader, but also a tough critic, all to ensure that the people of Santa Clara County received the services and attention they deserve,” said VTA General Manager/CEO Carolyn Gonot. “I could not have asked for a more deeply engaged and committed leader.”
Chavez was presented with a plaque from the four unions represented at VTA that read: “Champion of the workers. Thank you for keeping VTA on the right track for 20 years.”
“The best thing about you is that you’ve been a member of our community,” said SEIU VTA Chapter Chairperson and Region One Vice President, Tammy Dhanota. “You’ve been there for us any time of the day. You’ve put your whole heart into VTA, and it’s made us a better agency.”
Under Chavez’s leadership, VTA accomplished major projects, including the completion of the Silicon Valley BART Extension to Milpitas and North San José which opened in 2020 and continuing work on the second phase of the project, extending the service into Downtown San Jose and Santa Clara with four more stations. She was instrumental in helping to secure $5.1 billion in federal funding for the Project in 2024. Chavez has also been a staunch advocate for the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector light rail extension and saw the agency through the trying challenge of the COVID pandemic.
“Supervisor Chavez has been a fearless and tireless advocate for riders and workers,” said newly elected Chair Lopez. “Over the past year, I've benefited from her wisdom and foresight in preparing for this transition, and as we wish her a fond farewell, I will continue to draw inspiration from her example of lifelong service."
Chavez also focused on improving the workplace culture at VTA, launching the Organizational Culture and Climate Transformation initiative to enhance communication, safety, and support for VTA employees. She played a crucial role in securing funding and services for VTA workers and their families after the tragic 2021 Guadalupe Light Rail Yard mass shooting, including helping to establish the 526 Resiliency Center, which provides free mental health services for employees.
Another key achievement was her leadership in promoting affordable housing near public transit. Chavez pushed for VTA’s Affordable Housing Policy and Transit-Oriented Communities Policy, which aim to address the need for affordable housing while simultaneously boosting transit ridership and revenues. Her leadership of Santa Clara County’s 2016 Measure A directly benefitted VTA’s work to encourage affordable housing near transit stations.
Chavez also played an important role in fully restoring VTA’s transit services to pre-pandemic levels, streamlining transit schedules, connecting more services to BART and Caltrain, and setting a vision for future ridership growth with the 2025 Transit Service Plan.
VTA extends its greatest thanks to Cindy Chavez for her outstanding service and leadership. Her contributions have made a lasting difference in the lives of thousands of people in Santa Clara County, and her legacy will continue to shape the future of transit in the region.
Below are comments made by each board member in tribute to Chavez’s long tenure at VTA.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee - “Her energy is boundless and when she has a good idea she’ll keep going and going. VTA and SCC is certainly a better place because of your leadership”
Santa Clara County Supervisor-elect Margaret Abe Koga - "My deepest gratitude. Cindy you’ve been an incredible mentor to me and so many others.
Sunnyvale City Councilmember Omar Din - “As one of the newer members your leadership and mentorship has helped me navigate some of the more complex matters we’ve had.”
San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei - “How grateful I am for your legacy. As an elected official so many of the initiatives that you were a part of in Santa Clara Valley are for our future.”
Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano – “You are a legacy in Santa Clara County, and I always look up to you and admire you.”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan – “I’ve been so lucky and privileged to work with you. It’s a testament to your character that you reached out. She really moves things forward. Your legacy here is the thousands of families who benefitted from the things you worked on.”
San Jose City Councilmember Pam Foley – “Your knowledge is so impressive I don’t know how any of us could have had that knowledge; you are a woman of the people, open and embracing to all.”
Palo Alto City Councilmember Pat Burt – “It’s really during my term as chair she was an invaluable partner. Her passion for VTA, true passion, and for SJ and Santa Clara County, it is wonderful and infectious. (You have a) deep knowledge of government processes and political process and you are warm and empathetic. It’s an exceptional set of characteristics that we will miss.”
San Jose City Councilmember Dev Davis – “At the heart of everything you do is a deep love for people. You show that - always taking care of people."
Morgan Hill Mayor Mark Turner – “As an alternate on the board, having worked with you for the last 45 minutes…(laughter)” On behalf of South County, thank you for your leadership.”
San Jose City Councilmember David Cohen - I’ve seen you as a leader and a friend. Bernalillo County’s gain is our loss.”
General Manager/CEO Carolyn Gonot - “When I talk about the fact that transit is part of the fabric of our community, you have woven a large part of that fabric.”
Chavez responded to the tribute with a heartfelt thank you. “Public service is one of the most noble things you can choose. And that you all choose it makes me proud.”