The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Board of Directors in San Rafael, CA, has named Farhad Mansourian as its general manager permanently. Mansourian had been serving in the post on an interim basis.

“After an extensive search of the most qualified applicants in the country, the SMART Board of Directors believes the best candidate for the job is already on the job,” announced SMART Chairwoman and Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown.

Mansourian has spent 31 years working for Marin County, most recently heading the Department of Public Works. He managed the operation of the county’s public transportation agency for 12 years and was executive director of its Congestion Management Agency for 14 years. He also was a key figure in working towards the passage of county-wide sales tax Measure A.