Thomas Blalock

Thomas Blalock first joined the Board after his District 6 constituents elected him on November 8, 1994. Since then, voters re-elected him in 1998, 2002 and 2006 to represent Fremont, Newark, Sunol, Union City and portions of Hayward. His BART Board colleagues first chose him to serve as Vice President of the Board in 1999 and President of the Board in 2000. He served as President for the second time from December 2008 through December 2009. Director Blalock currently serves as Chairperson of BART’s Internal Audit Committee and the Administration Committee. He is a member of the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency. He is also a member of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors, a commissioner on the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (ACE), a member of both the "San Joaquins" Rail Committee and the Policy Advisory Committee for the Dumbarton Rail. Blalock is dedicated to expand BART south. He serves on the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Project Policy Advisory Board, whose efforts include the new Warm Springs Station and the future BART extension to Santa Clara County. Director Blalock brings to the BART Board an extensive background in planning, engineering and administration. His professional career spans 43 years working for three cities (Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Fremont). Notable positions include Traffic Engineer in Sunnyvale and 20 years as Public Works Director in Fremont. He retired in August 1995. He has directed functions of Engineering, Real Property, Transportation, Building Inspection, Waste Management and Maintenance of Fleet, Streets, Parks and Buildings. Blalock is a life member of the American Public Works Association (APWA). He received the "Samuel A. Greely Award" in 1991. He is also a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Blalock was appointed Chair of the Urban Planning & Development Executive Committee in 1980. He received the "Harland Bartholomew Award" (a national award in Urban and Regional Planning) in 1985. He was the 1998 President of ASCE’s 6,000 member San Francisco Section. From 1984 to 1994 he served on various policy committees for the League of California Cities and served as President (1991) for the League’s Public Works Officers Department. Blalock’s community involvement includes being a parent faculty club board member at the Chadbourne School and Mission San Jose High School. He was also an umpire for the Mission San Jose Little League and an active member of St. James Episcopal Church in Fremont. He has been a board member (for 17 years) and Chair of the Children’s Home Society of California for the Golden Gate District in Oakland. He is a member of the Fremont Kiwanis Club and the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. In 1996 he chaired the City of Fremont’s Downtown Planning Advisory Committee. Blalock holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from San Jose State University and is a licensed Civil Engineer. He received the "Award of Distinction" from San Jose State University in May 2000. Director Blalock resides in Fremont with his wife, Gail. They have five children, three grandsons and five granddaughters. His hobbies include wine making, fishing, boating and travel.