A longtime government official on the South Coast put his retirement on hold to help manage a transportation agency in the region.
Mark Watkins has been named Interim Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. Watkins served as Ventura’s City Manager for four years, before retiring in 2017. Before that, Watkins was with Thousand Oaks as its Assistant City Manager,
Watkins will manage the transportation agency while the commission looks for a permanent Executive Director. Longtime VCTC head Darren Kettle is leaving to become the Executive Director of Southern California’s Metrolink commuter rail service.
The Transportation Commission is involved with efforts like supporting commuter rail and bus systems in the region. It’s also spearheaded major projects like the widening of Highway 101 and Highway 23.
