| Today, at the first HRTAC meeting of Fiscal Year 2016, the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) elected Virginia Beach Mayor William D. Sessoms Jr. as HRTAC Chair, and Williamsburg Mayor Clyde Haulman, as Vice-Chair. Addressing the HRTAC, Mayor Sessoms said ""It's a tremendous honor to be selected by the members of the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission to serve as chair. Transportation is the most critical issue we face as a region, and I will work hard to make sure that we arrive at real solutions to our transportation challenges." Reflecting on HRTAC's first Chair, Mayor Alan Krasnoff of Chesapeake, Mayor Sessoms said, ""Mayor Krasnoff has provided dynamic leadership as the inaugural chairman of HRTAC. He has helped to establish a solid framework for making decisions about transportation projects that will serve us well for years to come."
Following the election of Mayor Sessoms and Mayor Haulman, HRTAC announced the hiring of Kevin Page, Chief of Infrastructure Initiatives and Strategic Partnerships for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), as HRTAC Executive Director.
Mr. Page, who will assume leadership of the HRTAC on August 10, 2015, has over 28 years of public service, transportation planning, and program/project negotiations and delivery experience. Additionally, Mr. Page has been involved in a number of large-scale public-private and multi-state partnerships including Dulles Transit Rail Project and the Norfolk Southern Crescent Corridor Initiative. Mr. Page also played a hand in the development of regional Amtrak passenger train service and the expansion of the Virginia Railway Express commuter transit service to serve new markets. Senator Frank Wagner, (R, VA Beach) former HRTAC Vice-Chair said of Mr. Page's hiring "After an extensive national search, HRTAC is confident in our selection of Mr. Page, particularly given his background in budget, finance, economic development and transportation initiatives of a large magnitude here in the Virginia Commonwealth". Adding to Senator Wagner's comments, DRPT Director Jennifer Mitchell said " During Kevin's 22 years with DRPT, he has done immeasurable work to further transit and rail in the Commonwealth. I predict he will continue to make a strong impact as Executive Director of HRTAC."
# # # |
