Santa Cruz METRO announced that two members of its executive leadership team have been selected to serve in influential statewide transit advisory roles.
METRO CEO Corey Aldridge has been appointed to the California Transit Association’s new Transit Funding Task Force, while Chief Planning and Innovation Officer John Urgo has been selected to serve on the California Transit Advisory Committee.
California Transit Association Executive Committee Chair Erin Rogers appointed Aldridge to the new Transit Funding Task Force, which will advise Association staff on priorities for upcoming negotiations concerning Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund expenditures.
The task force will also identify and evaluate potential new state revenue sources for public transit operations and help guide the Association’s efforts to secure additional funding during the 2027–28 Legislative Session.
“I am honored to join the Transit Funding Task Force at a critical time for public transportation agencies throughout California,” said Aldridge. “Transit systems need reliable, long-term funding to maintain essential service, respond to rising operating costs and continue investing in cleaner, more connected communities. I look forward to working with transit leaders from across the state to identify practical funding solutions that support agencies and the people who rely on them.”
Aldridge has nearly 20 years of leadership experience in public transportation. Since joining METRO in 2024, he has guided initiatives focused on increasing ridership, transitioning to a zero-emission fleet and incorporating affordable housing into transit properties. Aldridge also serves on the Board of Directors of The Bus Coalition, a national advocacy organization dedicated to increasing federal investment in public transportation.
Urgo will bring METRO’s planning and project-development experience to CALTAC, which provides strategic input and technical guidance for the implementation of key California Department of Transportation documents and policies. These include Caltrans District Transit Plans, Director’s Policy and future updates or successor documents.
Committee members coordinate with multiple Caltrans divisions and programs, partner agencies and transit advocates from across California.
“It is a privilege to represent Santa Cruz METRO on the California Transit Advisory Committee,” said Urgo. “Transit planning works best when state, regional and local partners collaborate closely and incorporate the experiences of the communities they serve. I look forward to contributing to policies and plans that make public transportation faster, more reliable, more sustainable and easier to access throughout California.”
As METRO’s Chief Planning and Innovation Officer, Urgo oversees service planning, long-range planning, capital projects and grant programs. His team is leading METRO’s efforts to grow ridership, develop affordable housing on METRO-owned properties and improve bus speed and reliability along major corridors.