The new year brings a change in leadership and new members to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. At this year’s first TA meeting, San Mateo Mayor John Lee was reappointed to the board, as the representative for the county’s cities-at-large, as well as being elected chair of the TA board of directors. Redwood City councilwoman Rosanne Foust, who represents the county’s southern cities, was elected vice chair.

Among the new faces on the TA are Burlingame Councilwoman Rosalie O’Mahony, representing the county’s central cities. She takes the seat that had been held by former Burlingame Councilman Joe Galligan, who did not seek reelection to office. South San Francisco Mayor Joe Fernekes joins the TA, representing the county’s northern cities. He replaces Lee Panza, who also declined to seek reelection, after 16 years on the Brisbane City Council.

Also reappointed to the board was San Mateo County Supervisor, Rich Gordon.

The board’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee also recently elected new officers. Rick Gomez was elected chair and Patricia Dixon was elected vice chair of this committee, which has 15 representatives from throughout the community and acts in an advisory capacity to the board.

The TA is responsible for administering the county’s Measure A, half-cent sales tax fund. Among the projects the TA helps fund are paratransit services, the construction of auxiliary lanes along highway 101 in San Mateo County, raised rail track along the Caltrain corridor, and funding to cities for local road maintenance.

The TA regularly meets the first Thursday of the month, at 5 p.m., at 1250 San Carlos Ave., in San Carlos.