James Corless

James Corless is the chief executive officer of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). He was previously the founding director of Transportation for America, which is a bipartisan alliance of elected, business, and civic leaders from cities and counties across the country. Under Corless’ leadership the coalition worked to ensure states and the federal government invest in smart, locally-driven transportation solutions. Mr. Corless has come full circle with his return to California. Before Transportation for America he was a senior planner for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his tenure at MTC, he led the agency’s public-private partnerships to promote jobs, and mixed-use and mixed-income residential construction along transit corridors. Mr. Corless helped author groundbreaking legislation in California that encourages the coordination of transportation, growth and economic development.