SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At an agenda-packed monthly meeting, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board recognized former state legislator Richard Katz and union business manager Russell Burns as two newly appointed members, and David Crane as returning member of the board, which is responsible for oversight of the development of the state's 800-mile high-speed train system. David Crane, 55, of San Francisco, was reappointed to the board by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Crane has served on the authority since 2007. He is a special advisor to the Governor for jobs and economic growth and is also a member of the California Economic Development Commission. Richard Katz, 58, of Sherman Oaks, was appointed to the Authority Board by Governor Schwarzenegger. Since 1997, he has served as a private economic consultant based in Los Angeles. He is Director of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and he served for 16 years in the state legislature beginning in 1980. Katz was a senior advisor to Governor Gray Davis for energy and water. Russ Burns, business manager of Operating Engineers Local 3, was appointed to the Authority Board by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. He previously served on the Cal-OSHA Standards Board Subcommittee for Certification of Crane Operators. A third-generation operating engineer and Local 3 member, Burns started his career as a crane operator on a variety of high rises, bridges, refineries and large treatment plants throughout Northern California and Reno, NV.
