Stacey Mortensen

Stacey Mortensen
Nationality	American
Occupation	Transportation executive
Employer	San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission
Known for	Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC)

Stacey Mortensen is an American transportation executive who served as the Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) for approximately 27 years before announcing her departure in 2025. In that role, she oversaw the operations and strategic direction of the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) commuter rail service and played a central part in managing the San Joaquin intercity passenger rail service, one of California's busiest state-supported Amtrak routes. Mortensen's long tenure at the helm of the SJRRC made her one of the most enduring figures in California's regional rail sector, guiding the agency through periods of expansion, operational change, and policy debates about the future of passenger rail in the state's Central Valley and greater Bay Area corridor.

Career

San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission

Stacey Mortensen served as Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, the agency responsible for managing and administering the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) commuter rail service and the San Joaquin intercity passenger rail service. The SJRRC is a joint powers authority that coordinates rail services in California's San Joaquin Valley and the greater Northern California region. Mortensen held the executive director position for approximately 27 years, making her one of the longest-serving leaders of a regional rail commission in the state.

The Altamont Corridor Express, which operates commuter rail service between Stockton and San Jose via the Altamont Pass, was a central focus of Mortensen's work. Under her leadership, the SJRRC managed and expanded the ACE service, which provides a critical transportation link for commuters traveling between the San Joaquin Valley and Silicon Valley employment centers. The service addresses a significant commuting demand created by workers who live in the more affordable Central Valley communities but work in the higher-cost Bay Area.

In addition to the ACE commuter service, Mortensen oversaw the SJRRC's role in managing the San Joaquin intercity rail service, one of the state-supported Amtrak routes connecting the San Joaquin Valley with the Bay Area and Sacramento. The San Joaquin service is among the busiest Amtrak routes outside of the Northeast Corridor and serves as a vital transportation link for communities across the Central Valley.

Amtrak Operations and Cost Debates

During Mortensen's tenure, the SJRRC engaged in significant discussions regarding the operational costs and management of the San Joaquin intercity rail service. In 2019, reports emerged that the commission was evaluating alternatives to Amtrak as the operator of the San Joaquin trains. According to reporting by ABC30 Fresno, Amtrak allegedly charged approximately three times as much per passenger to operate the San Joaquin trains compared to the cost of operating the Altamont Corridor Express service. This cost disparity prompted the SJRRC under Mortensen's leadership to explore whether other operators could provide the service more efficiently.

The question of Amtrak's role as operator was part of a broader national conversation about the management of state-supported passenger rail routes. Under federal law, states and regional agencies had gained greater authority over the management of short-distance intercity rail routes, giving entities like the SJRRC more leverage in negotiating operational contracts and considering alternative service providers. Mortensen's involvement in these discussions reflected her agency's active role in seeking cost-effective solutions for rail passengers in the San Joaquin Valley corridor.

Role in California Rail Policy

Mortensen's leadership of the SJRRC placed her at the intersection of several major California transportation policy issues, including the development of the state's high-speed rail project and the broader effort to expand and improve passenger rail service throughout the state. The San Joaquin Valley, where the SJRRC operates, was a key segment of the planned California High-Speed Rail route, and decisions about that project had direct implications for the existing conventional rail services that Mortensen managed.

The California bullet train project, which had been championed by Governor Jerry Brown and would later become one of Governor Gavin Newsom's inherited challenges, had significant ramifications for regional rail operators like the SJRRC. The project's construction in the Central Valley, its evolving scope, and its potential integration with existing rail services were all matters that affected the commission's planning and operations during Mortensen's long tenure.

Congressional Engagement

The SJRRC's work under Mortensen's leadership intersected with federal rail policy as well. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held hearings examining the future of passenger rail in the United States, discussions in which state-supported rail services like those managed by the SJRRC were relevant subjects. These congressional proceedings addressed questions about funding, service expansion, and the role of regional rail commissions in the national passenger rail network.

Departure from SJRRC

On April 30, 2025, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission announced that Mortensen would step down from her role as Executive Director. The announcement, reported by multiple rail industry publications, noted her approximately 27-year tenure leading the agency. Railway Age reported the news on May 1, 2025, and Trains Magazine provided additional coverage on May 2, 2025, both highlighting the length and significance of her service to the commission.

The Pleasanton Weekly also reported on Mortensen's departure in a July 2025 news digest, referring to her as the "ACE train agency exec" and noting her stepping down alongside other regional transportation news, including ongoing roadwork on Interstate 680 through Pleasanton.

Mortensen's departure marked the end of one of the longest continuous leadership tenures at a California regional rail agency. Her nearly three decades at the SJRRC spanned significant changes in California's transportation landscape, including the evolution of commuter rail services, debates over intercity rail operations, and the development of the state's high-speed rail ambitions.

Recognition

Mortensen was recognized by Mass Transit magazine, which profiled her in her capacity as Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. The publication highlighted her role in leading the agency and overseeing the rail services under its purview.

Her long tenure at the SJRRC and her involvement in key debates about the future of passenger rail in California established her as a notable figure in the state's transportation sector. The coverage of her departure by multiple industry publications, including Railway Age, Trains Magazine, and the Pleasanton Weekly, reflected the significance of her role in the regional and state rail community.

Legacy

Stacey Mortensen's approximately 27-year tenure as Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission coincided with a transformative period for passenger rail in California. During her leadership, the state invested in expanding and improving its network of intercity and commuter rail services, and the SJRRC played a central role in delivering those services to communities in the San Joaquin Valley and the greater Bay Area corridor.

The Altamont Corridor Express, which she oversaw, provided a commuter rail option for workers navigating one of California's most significant housing-employment divides—the gap between affordable communities in the Central Valley and job centers in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. The San Joaquin intercity service, also under the commission's management, remained one of the most heavily used state-supported Amtrak routes in the country throughout her tenure.

Mortensen's willingness to challenge existing operational arrangements, as evidenced by the SJRRC's exploration of alternatives to Amtrak for operating the San Joaquin service, reflected an approach focused on cost efficiency and accountability in the delivery of public rail services. Her engagement with state and federal rail policy discussions further positioned the SJRRC as an active participant in shaping the future of passenger rail in California and nationally.