“Boris’s appointment to this position continues the excellent work he has done as the Acting Northern California Regional Director to prepare us for future Silicon Valley to Central Valley high-speed rail service,” said Authority CEO Brian Kelly. “His experience with the high-speed rail program and his familiarity with the issues in the region are invaluable.”
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This spring, Lipkin was appointed Acting Northern California Regional Director, where he has already been playing a pivotal role in leading the delivery of the Silicon Valley to Central Valley line in the Northern California region.
Lipkin has previously served in several roles with the high-speed rail program since 2011, and prior to his acting position, he served as the Authority’s deputy director, strategic planning, as appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown. In that role, Lipkin helped negotiate key agreements with Caltrain and other partners.
As the Northern California Regional Director, he will continue his focus on engaging regional stakeholders on developing the program and bringing the benefits of improved transportation and mobility to Northern California.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.