Los Angeles City Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr. was unanimously elected to succeed Kellogg and serve his fourth term as Chairman.

"Jeff has been with ACTA since it was formed, and we'll miss his leadership and institutional knowledge," said Svorinich, who presented Kellogg with a City of Los Angeles proclamation. "I'm delighted to take over as chairman during this critical juncture as we steam toward completion."

Kellogg, the only member of the Governing Board to serve since its inception in 1989, has been instrumental in the development of the Alameda Corridor project from a concept to a full-scale construction program. His is leaving the Long Beach City Council because of term limits and therefore must relinquish his position with ACTA, a partnership between the cities and ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Among the many tributes and letters of thanks to Kellogg from elected officials was an entry in the Congressional Record by Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Long Beach, which reads in part: "It is a testament to Councilman Kellogg's exemplary service that the Alameda Corridor is now in full-scale construction, on budget and on schedule for completion in 2002."

"We will miss Jeff not only for his vision and leadership but also his steady support," ACTA Chief Executive Officer James C. Hankla said.

For his part, Kellogg noted that Congress has identified the Alameda Corridor as "project of national significance." He called the project "a monumental undertaking that brings together the advantages of the private sector and the best of the public sector to benefit not just our region but the entire nation. It has been a privilege and an honor to be associated with the project. I intend to be there when the first train rolls across those rails in April 2002."