Joel B. Young

Joel Young is the At-Large Director on the AC Transit Board of Directors, serving since 2009 and currently holding a term through 2026. A UC Berkeley-educated attorney, Director Young has held leadership positions on the Board as Vice President from 2021 to 2022 and President from 2023 to 2024. He currently chairs the Board’s Planning Committee. Director Young serves as Vice Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), is the Second Vice Chair of APTA’s new Strategic Engagement Council, and co-chairs APTA’s Mega Events Committee, which focuses on coalescing public transit industry support to address transit needs for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

Over the course of his service, Director Young has led several key initiatives to strengthen transit in the East Bay. He secured more than $600 million in funding to sustain AC Transit service and keep fares affordable, and played a central role in expanding AC Transit’s zero-emission fleet, particularly through investments in hydrogen fuel cell technology. He also helped direct over $200 million in contracting dollars to support local businesses and jobs. In 2016, Director Young chaired the successful parcel tax renewal campaign (Measure C1), extending crucial operational funding for the District. He was instrumental in the creation of the Freedom Bus Project, a collaborative effort between the Alameda County Office of Education, Alameda County Arts Commission, and AC Transit to commemorate the anniversary of Rosa Parks’ historic bus ride through arts education, public transit, and the history of the civil rights movement. In 2024, he represented AC Transit at the White House Roundtable on Clean Bus Manufacturing, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to domestic, zero-emission technology. He has also been deeply involved in shaping AC Transit’s Climate Action Plan, advocating for sustainable transit policy and infrastructure .

A lifelong East Bay resident, Director Young lives in downtown Oakland and regularly commutes using AC Transit and BART, reflecting his strong personal commitment to public transportation.