San Joaquin County’s Fifth District Supervisor Robert Rickman was elected Chair of the San Joaquin Council of Governments Board of Directors. The action came on June 23; Rickman represents Escalon on the county’s Board of Supervisors.

The Council of Governments Board, meanwhile, establishes regional transportation policies and programs and decides on funding allocations for transportation improvements. Citizens, special or community interest groups, and other agencies are also involved in the planning and approval process. The Board is responsible for all policy decisions under the authority of SJCOG, as the designated Council of Governments, Regional Transportation Planning Authority, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Airport Land Use Commission, and SJCOG, Inc.

The San Joaquin Council of Governments is a regional planning agency responsible for transportation planning, habitat conservation planning, and a range of other responsibilities that include managing the Measure K transportation program as well as housing, air quality and airport land use planning. The operating budget for the agency is over $13 million and SJCOG apportions out approximately $150 million in transportation investments annually.

“I am humbled by my colleagues’ vote of confidence in me to lead this Board,” Rickman said. “We look forward to working together to accomplish great things for the residents of San Joaquin County and in collaboration with our regional partners.”