Darren Capes FIET FIHE has been appointed as Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at Department for Transport (DfT).
Darren had spent the previous seven years as DfT’s Intelligent Transport Systems Policy Lead, having initially joined the department on secondment from his role as Transport Systems Manager for the City of York, a position he had held for 17 years.
His timely appointment comes after a quartet of DfT officials’ retirements, with Head of Traffic & Technology Anthony Ferguson, Head of Smarter Traffic Management Graham Hanson, Connected Roads Policy Lead Gary Crockford and Technical Specialist Suku Phull all recently announcing the end of their careers.
Darren started his career in transport as an engineering technician with Humberside County Council in 1986 before joining North Lincolnshire Council in 1996 to take up a position as a Transportation Engineer. He joined City of York Council in 2001 where he remained until his move to DfT in 2018.
“This will be very much a continuation of the work I have been leading at DfT,” said Darren, “but with a stronger focus on maximising the use of technology on the road network now, and preparing it for the challenges of the future.
“Technology has the ability to make our roads safer, more sustainable and more efficient, as evidenced at the recent Transport Technology Forum, and I look forward to helping the UK’s excellent road infrastructure technology sector to continue to realise its enormous potential.”
Darren is currently Senior Vice President of the Institute of Highway Engineers and told Highways News that he is “looking forward to becoming president in 2026”.
(Pic: Paul Hutton)
