The “father” of modern public transit in Santa Clara County – and elsewhere – has transitioned. Many Bay Area news outlets reported that Rod Diridon, Sr. passed away last Friday (April 3) from an illness. He was 87 years old.
Here’s more for you to read on the late Rod Diridon, Sr.
National and California State Impact
Nationally, he was co-chair of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association. More from U.S. High-Speed Rail, courtesy of Streetsblog San Francisco:
“Rod was a giant in the transportation world,” said Ray LaHood, co-chair of U.S. High-Speed Rail and a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation. “He was totally committed to making high-speed rail a reality in California and never stopped working to provide his expertise and influence toward achieving that goal.
“It is with deep sadness that we honor the passing of our great friend and leader Rod Diridon,” said Andy Kunz, president and CEO of U.S. High-Speed Rail, in a statement. “Rod was a tireless advocate for delivering climate solutions and a better life for Americans through the development of world-class rail systems. He spent decades doing the hard work of bringing people together to push for this important mission.”
Read the California Transit Association’s profile on the late Rod Diridon, Sr. According to the California Transit Association, the late Mr. Diridon, Sr. chaired more than 100 international, national, state, and local programs, most related to transit and the environment.
More on his local impact is below.
Local (Santa Clara County) Impact
Sal Pizzaro of the Mercury News reported on Rod Diridon, Sr.’s passing and impact throughout his life.
At 32, Diridon was elected to the Saratoga City Council in 1971. Three years later, he defeated a 14-year incumbent to become the youngest person elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, where he served for the next 20 years. He fought to save the historic train station on Cahill Avenue off Santa Clara St. in San Jose after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. When he retired from public service in 1994, the station was renamed in his honor. That intercity train station is now known as San Jose Diridon Station.
In 1976, Rod Diridon, Sr. campaigned for Santa Clara County’s – and California’s – first half-cent sales tax for local public transit. In the 1980’s, he led the charge to create Santa Clara County’s light rail system, and chaired the study that ultimately led to Caltrain commuter rail service. He spent his later years continuing to work on models of efficient transit with the Mineta Transportation Institute from 1993 to 2014, raising awareness about climate change.
Conclusion
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of meeting the late Rod Diridon, Sr. during a recent protest for more public transit funding in San Jose. It was my first time meeting him formally, and face to face. To me, he came across as a kind, caring, knowledgeable man.
Some of what he advocated for – particularly light rail in Santa Clara County – has been discussed here. Its merits and derision will be discussed at a later time. Meanwhile, the next post here will illustrate something the late Rod Diridon, Sr. would have wanted us all to do today.
May where he transitioned to be a better place with his presence and lessons learned.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users