Iwasaki, the executive director of the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority (CCTA) for the last 10 years, will enter retirement beginning Dec. 26, CCTA announced. Iwasaki will be replaced by Timothy Haile, who has served as deputy executive director for projects at the agency since 2017.
Iwasaki has been a champion of growing autonomous vehicle testing and technologies at the 2,100-acre GoMentum Station, the largest dedicated AV testing site in the country. GoMentum is now owned and operated by AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah.
Numerous electric autonomous shuttle projects have undergone testing at the GoMentum site, 35 miles east of San Francisco.
In 2009, Iwasaki was named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers for his work to modernize transportation systems, introducing innovation in traffic signal and other systems.
While at Caltrans, prior to joining CCTA, Iwasaki worked to transition vehicles to clean-burning fuels, phase out high-energy lighting and recycle old tires into new asphalt.
“His vision, as well as his ability to create, guide and inspire a remarkable workforce resulted in a small but mighty team who has made significant advances to improve mobility in Contra Costa County,” said Julie Pierce, chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, in a statement.
Haile will bring more than 23 years of experience in transportation and public works and has been involved with managing U.S. Department of Transportation grants, as well as partnerships affiliated with the GoMentum Station.
He has also served as an adjunct professor for a highway design course at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
“Tim’s dynamic thinking, leadership, proactive management style, technical acuity and ability to work in partnership with numerous stakeholders on large, multidisciplinary projects ensures CCTA’s continued success,” said Pierce in a statement.
