Former mayor to serve second year with OCTA

Former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa was named vice-chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority on Tuesday, replacing former Vice-Chairman Chris Norby, who will now head up the agency.

Buffa, a self-described “transportation junkie,” served on the Costa Mesa City Council from 1986 to 1998. It is his second year with the transportation authority.

“It’s an exciting year for transportation in this county — there are big improvements in highway and rail systems planned, and an expansion of Metrolink, both in terms of equipment and service scheduling,” he said.

Buffa said he thought transportation was “the overarching issue that affects everything” in Orange County, and he hopes the board would bring some improvements to county infrastructure.

“It’s the über-issue that drives everything else, and that’s what’s fun about it,” he said. “Getting people and goods around efficiently and safely.”

— Chris Caesar