Pictured left to right: City of Dana Point Council Member John Gabbard, Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle, Southern California Association of Governments Senior Government Affairs Officer Jonathan Davis, City of Fountain Valley Council Member Patrick Harper, City of Villa Park Council Member Crystal Miles, Office of Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee Policy Advisor/Field Representative Logan Ueno, Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman/Fourth District Supervisor and Metrolink Board Vice Chair Doug Chaffee, Association of California Cities-Orange County Director of Member Services Kathryn Morrison, Orange County Conservation Corps CEO Katharyn Muniz, Association of California Cities-Orange County Director of Communications Marlene Barraza, Association of California Cities-Orange County Executive Director Kris Murray, City of Laguna Hills Council Member Janine Heft, SoCalGas Project Manager Jeannie Kong-Pang, Orange County Business Council Vice President of Investor Relations Carl Heft, SoCalGas Public Affairs Manager Clarissa Serpas, City of Los Alamitos Council Member Tanya Doby, City of Los Alamitos Director of Recreation and Community Services Emeline Noda, City of Lake Forest City Manager Debra Rose, National CORE Chief Development Officer Alexa Washburn, City of Anaheim Council Member Stephen Faessel and City of Orange Council Member Jon Dumitru.
On Oct. 31, Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle shared his strategic vision for the agency, including plans for continued growth and innovation, with the Association of California Cities, Orange County. He highlighted ridership recovery efforts, Metrolink’s new “reimagined” schedule that launched Oct. 21, offering more midday trains and improved connections, and the success of the Student Adventure Pass program since its inception in October 2023.
Beyond ridership initiatives, Darren updated attendees on Metrolink’s ambitious SCORE infrastructure improvement program designed to increase train service capacity ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He also detailed progress toward the agency’s climate goals, including Metrolink’s use of 100% renewable fuel and the arrival of North America’s first hydrogen hybrid zero-emission passenger train, the ‘ZEMU,’ which has been conducting testing on the Arrow corridor with the goal of entering service in 2025.
The presentation provided an opportunity for leaders throughout Orange County to learn more about how Metrolink is benefiting their communities.