It’s with great sadness that the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) shares the passing of the agency’s former Board of Directors Chair Don Horsley. He passed on Friday, Nov. 24, at the age of 80.
After serving 14 years as San Mateo County Sheriff and soon after winning a San Mateo County Supervisor seat, Horsley was then appointed to the TA Board of Directors in 2011. He served for nearly a dozen years through December 2022 and was board chair in both 2018 and 2019.
“Director Horsley was a dedicated and engaged public servant and he gave his time fully to ensure better transportation options for everyone in San Mateo County,” said TA Executive Director April Chan. “I truly enjoyed working with him and am saddened by his passing.”
During his years on the board, Director Horsley also gained the respect of his fellow board members, who remember him as an advocate for transportation solutions in San Mateo County.
“Don Horsley was a committed advocate for transportation across San Mateo County, whom I had the privilege to serve with on a couple of transportation boards,” said current TA Board Chair Rico E. Medina. “Whether it was funding and support for the 101 Express Lanes or for the Caltrain grade separations, or ensuring the Coastside received its fair share of transportation funding, Don worked tirelessly to improve transportation for everyone who calls the Peninsula home.”
Director Horsley also ensured that community members who are mobility-impaired have equitable access to transportation services. During his time on the board, he joined his colleagues in authorizing the allocation of over $40 million in Measure A funds for the Paratransit Program at SamTrans.
Director Don Horsley delivers comments at a Caltrain grade-separation ceremony.
Those who live along the Caltrain corridor may appreciate Director Horsley’s approval of the vital funding needed for 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project in the city of San Mateo and the South San Francisco Caltrain Station Improvement Project. Both projects have delivered safer, more accessible Caltrain stations for their communities.
As for Coastside transportation funding, Director Horsley helped secure money for the Highway 1/Main to Kehoe Project in Half Moon Bay, Moss Beach Highway 1 congestion and safety improvements, and the Highway 1/Manor Drive overcrossing in Pacifica.
These examples represent just a small sampling of Director Horsley’s transportation impacts on San Mateo County.
Other community-service passions for Don Horsley included improving mental health services, providing more beds for those experiencing homelessness, and expanding access to parks and open spaces, the San Mateo County Executive’s Office noted in a message on his passing.
Director Horsley’s dedication and contributions to transportation along the Peninsula will be sorely missed by many at the TA and throughout San Mateo County.