Thomas West

CALIFORNIA PATH DIRECTOR

409A McLaughlin Hall, MC 1720
BerkeleyCA 94720
United States
Phone: 
510-642-4522

Biography

Thomas West has over 30 years of professional experience in the conduct and management of transportation research, development, and deployment. Tom holds an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering and a Professional Engineering license in the State of California.

Tom currently serves as the Director of the California Program for Advanced Transportation Technology (PATH) at the University of California, Berkeley. California PATH has been a leader in ITS research since its founding in1986, focusing on technical solutions to a wide spectrum of transportation challenges including safety, mobility, and the environment.  PATH specializes in ambitious and large-scale technical innovation, development, and demonstration. http://www.path.berkeley.edu/

Tom serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) and is also the Chair of the ITS America State Chapters Council.  Tom also serves as a member of the ITE Transportation Safety Advancement Group (TSAG) representing Academia and Research, serves as a Board Member to ITS California as well as the Chair of the ITS California Legislative Committee. Tom is an Affiliate Member of Lawrence Berkeley National Labs working on the DOE sponsored Smart Mobility Initiative.

Tom previously served as the Director of the California Center for Innovative Transportation at UC Berkeley and was charged with the implementation of new and emerging transportation technology including the facilitation of partnerships between university researchers, transportation agencies, and private industry to reach full-scale deployment for the most promising new transportation innovations.

Prior to joining the University of California, Tom worked for over 20 years with the California Department of Transportation in a variety of capacities including serving as the Chief of Research and Innovation, and as the statewide ITS liaison for all twelve Caltrans district offices.  Tom has considerable experience in transportation operations, having served for 10 years in a role directly dedicated to solving problematic safety and congestion issues statewide.  Tom also functioned as the single focal point at the California Department of Transportation for all activities related to the Governor’s Strategic Growth Plan, and the resultant $20B transportation improvement bond package passed by California voters in late 2006.