The California High-Speed Rail Authority elected Dan Richard to be its chairman, succeeding Thomas Umberg, who resigned that position last month and will remain on the board as an active member.

"I'd like to thank the board for its vote of confidence. I'm committed to the high-speed rail in California," Richard said. "This critical infrastructure project will help California meet transportation needs for a growing population and mean a better and brighter future for the entire state. It will also create much needed new construction jobs and business opportunities."

Richard has been a principal of Dan Richard Advisors since 2010. He was managing partner and co-founder of Heritage Oak Capital Partners, an infrastructure finance firm, from 2007 to 2009, and was senior VP, public policy and governmental relations, at Pacific Gas and Electric Co. from 1997 to 2006.

Richard was also an elected member of the Oakland, Calif.-based Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) from 1992 to 2004, where he served twice as president of the board. At BART, Richard led efforts to secure $4 billion in capital for system rehabilitation projects, the transit system's expansion to the San Francisco Airport and seismic retrofit programs.