Diridon to enter APTA Hall of Fame

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will induct Rod Diridon Sr., emeritus executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), into the APTA Hall of Fame.

Diridon is being honored for a lifetime of leadership and advocacy for public transportation in the United States and around the world, according to an MTI press release.

A trainman in college, Diridon "appreciates rail's linchpin niche in the nation's transportation network," MTI officials said. He served 20 years on the Santa Clara County, Calif., board of supervisors and transit board. He also chaired the San Francisco Bay area's three regional agencies and APTA, and was vice chair of the International Transit Association in Brussels. He cofounded APTA's Diversity Council.

In 1993, Diridon became executive director of the newly formed MTI at San Jose State University.

"The institute has become known throughout the world for providing peer-reviewed research on critical transportation policy issues. That remarkable success was based upon Rod's lifetime of top policy level leadership," said former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.

In 2000, Diridon was appointed to the California High-Speed Rail Authority's board and served to jumpstart the state's high-speed rail project. He later helped convert the U.S. High-Speed Ground Transportation Association into APTA's High-Speed Intercity Rail Committee, which he chaired. He also chairs the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association's board.