April 23, 2007

Richard Van Beveren appointed to TriMet board

Represents Beaverton, Hillsboro & Forest Grove

Hillsboro resident and businessman Richard Van Beveren has been appointed to the TriMet Board of Directors, representing District 1, which includes parts of Beaverton, Hillsboro and Forest Grove.

Van Beveren, 50, owns the Reedville Café in Hillsboro and a catering service, along with commercial property. He has had a long-term interest in land-use planning, community design and transportation planning, serving on several committees and task forces involved in those issues.

He participated in station-area planning for Westside MAX and on the citizen’s advisory committee for South Hillsboro. He also was a member of the Cornelius Pass Road Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP), and co-chaired the Citizens Campaign for the Washington County MSTIP. Van Beveren served as president and chair of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, where he worked with Metro, TriMet, Washington County and Hillsboro City planning staff.

He participates in many civic activities and organizations, including: Vision Action Network, Hillsboro Community Foundation, Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, the Oregon International Air Show and Hillsboro Schools Foundation. He has served on the Rose Festival Association board of directors and on Hillsboro 2020 Vision.

Van Beveren will use his land-use planning and business background to ensure transit planning goes hand in hand with development plans.

He earned a bachelor degree in business administration from Notre Dame University.

The governor-appointed, unpaid, seven-member TriMet board sets policy for the agency, as well as appoints the general manager, implements legislation pertaining to transit operations, and reviews and approves certain contracts. Board members can serve up to two, four-year terms. Van Beveren will fill out the remaining term of Dave Bolender, who recently moved out of the district.