Interim Executive Director

Christopher Gray is a seasoned executive and transportation planning leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning both the public and private sectors. Over the course of his career, he has built a reputation for strategic leadership, innovative regional planning, and delivering large-scale infrastructure solutions that drive long-term community growth.

Since joining Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) in 2016, Chris has played a pivotal role in advancing regional transportation and planning initiatives across Riverside County. He was initially appointed as Director of Transportation & Planning, where he was entrusted with overseeing the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Program, the largest regional transportation mitigation fee program in the United States. Since its inception in 2003, the program has funded more than 150 major transportation projects, including roadways, bridges, freeway interchanges, and transit facilities. Under Chris’s leadership, the program has successfully completed multiple nexus studies and continued to serve as a national model for regional infrastructure funding.

Prior to WRCOG, Chris spent two decades as a transportation consultant, first in Florida and later in California, where he led projects at the local, regional, statewide, national, and international levels. His portfolio included general plans, specific plans, infrastructure studies, and sophisticated multimodal transportation analyses. His leadership and expertise ultimately led to his promotion into his firm’s ownership group, reflecting both his professional accomplishments and industry respect.

Chris’s impact at WRCOG extends well beyond transportation finance. Through his leadership, the agency significantly expanded its regional grant writing program, helping member agencies secure more than $67 million in funding from an investment of just $700,000, an extraordinary return that has strengthened communities across the region. He also led the development of one of California’s first regional Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) mitigation programs, positioning WRCOG at the forefront of transportation policy innovation.

A highly regarded thought leader, Chris is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences and professional events throughout California, presenting on topics including transportation planning, demographic trends, economic development, and regional growth strategy.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree from Florida State University, and has completed numerous advanced leadership and professional development programs, including the prestigious Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.

A 21-year resident of Riverside County, Chris has lived in Temescal Valley with his family since 2005, where his professional commitment to the region is matched by his personal investment in the community he serves.