October Event Details

Moving People within the Inland Empire

The event is Hybrid, hosted by Omnitrans, Address: 1700 West 5th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92411

The facility is at the corner of Fifth St. and Medical Center Dr. Enter on Medical Center Dr., at the second driveway north of Fifth St.

Attending Online? A Zoom link will be sent before the event.

N.B.: let us know if your plans have changed by October 13, 2023 -- email: ltc@csusb.edu

Register HereEvent Program

The Issue

The Inland Empire, home to a diverse and rapidly growing population where transportation serves as the lifeblood, bridging the gap between homes and essential amenities such as healthcare facilities, workplaces, parks, and retail spaces. The region is distinguished by its extensive urban sprawl. Understanding how the population navigates this sprawling landscape provides insights into transportation accessibility and the efficacy of mobility strategies currently in place.

In this Dialogue, we will explore the ways people travel between public and private spaces, and how accessible various modes of transportation are. We will try to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current transportation network, and how it impacts everyday life. From public transit systems to private vehicles, we'll explore how these modes facilitate or sometimes, hinder the easy reach to vital areas, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the region's transportation dynamic.

Speakers

Darren Kettle is Chief Executive Officer of Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail service that provides a safe, easy, affordable, and stress-free alternative to car travel for the more than 18 million residents of the six-county mega-region. He became the Metrolink CEO in September 2021.

Kettle has more than 30 years of experience with local and regional government agencies. Before joining Metrolink, Kettle was the Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) for 14 years. Previously, Kettle was with the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) from 2000 through 2007. Early in his SANBAG tenure, Kettle was Director of Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs for both SANBAG and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC).

Kettle has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

Transformation Through Transportation:  Cucamonga Station - Multi-Modal Transit Hub

With the anticipated arrival of high-speed rail connecting Southern California to/from Las Vegas, Cucamonga Station (in partnership with SBCTA, Metrolink, Omnitrans & Ontario International Airport) will assist in the connectivity of Moving People within and beyond the Inland Empire.  

John Gillison is the City Manager of Rancho Cucamonga for 10+ years.  Prior to his current position he was the Assistant City Manager and Deputy City Manager for Rancho Cucamonga.  John also previously served as the City Manager for the City of Sierra Madre.  He has over 30 years in the public sector in five different agencies (Walnut, Cerritos, Pomona, Sierra Madre, Rancho Cucamonga), two different counties (Los Angeles and San Bernardino), full service and contract cities, charter and general law, with populations ranging in size from 15,000 to nearly 185,000 in population. 

John has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a Minor in Criminal Justice, and a Masters degree in Public Administration, all from California State University Fullerton.  During his career he has worked in Finance, Community Development and the City Manager’s office.  Areas of expertise include budgeting and finance, human resources and risk management, geographic information services, planning and building as well as engineering and redevelopment.

John has served in various leadership roles for the CalCities City Manager’s Department, and is the Board President for the CIRA insurance pool of 30+ public agencies and Board President for the ERMA insurance pool with over 200+ public agencies.  As a licensed California Attorney, John is a certified trainer in sexual harassment prevention as well as a Core Strengths, SDI facilitator for improved communication for individuals and teams.  

In addition, John is a long time member of the Emergency Medical Care Committee for San Bernardino County, a Board of Supervisors appointed position, current vice-chair, and was recently reappointed to a 4 year term thru 2026 representing city managers throughout the County. 

Dr. Raffi Der Wartanian is a research fellow specializing in transportation policy, data science, sustainability, and equity. His research endeavors at the Leonard Transportation Center at California State University, San Bernardino, his multifaceted research interests encompass the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, big data analytics in traffic and transportation modeling, geospatial analysis, and public policy. Moreover, he is invested in examining the environmental aspects of transportation systems, with a focus on climate change and sustainable practices. Another salient aspect of his research deals with social equity in public transit, particularly in suburban areas, and he examines the interplay between transportation policies and economic development. His work incorporates extensive data analysis and involves collaboration with various universities and organizations.

Richard Van Hyning is the Southern California Integrated Solutions Director for HNTB. As a senior transportation technology consultant, he supports a variety of tolling, ITS, and emerging mobility projects as well as transportation initiatives for Southern California clients, including the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA).

Richard has led and supported over 15 toll system implementation projects across two countries, including the I-15 Express Lanes in Riverside and San Diego counties, the SR-125 toll road in San Diego County, the SR-91 Express Lanes in Riverside and Orange counties, and the I-680 Express Lanes in Alameda County. He has 17 years of experience, including nearly a decade spent supporting complex hardware and software delivery projects and 6 years of military service in the United States Air Force.

Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from University of Massachusetts, Lowell, a Master of Business Administration degree from Oklahoma State University, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.