HRT board appoints Philip Shucet President/CEO
Written by jrood
The governing board of Hampton Roads Transit has selected Philip A. Shucet as HRT's president and CEO. One of Virginia's leading transportation administrators, Shucet is the former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation, where he imposed a series of reforms that greatly improved the agency's on-time and on-budget performance.
When
Shucet took over VDOT in 2001, one in every five construction projects was
behind schedule and more than half were over budget. By the end of his tenure,
Shucet had won widespread praise for imposing stronger business practices that
reversed the department’s management deficiencies.
Shucet
replaces Michael Townes who helped forge the modern day HRT and was central to
its successful efforts to bring Virginia’s first light rail project to Hampton
Roads. Townes announced his retirement earlier this month.
"Philip
Shucet will help restore confidence to The Tide project," said HRT Board
Chairman and Virginia Beach City Councilman Jim Wood. "His track record of
success on big transportation projects is impressive and we expect him to do
the same here."
Shucet
will serve until the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads
completes a nationwide search for a permanent CEO.
"We
are thrilled to have Philip Shucet join our team," said W. Randy Wright, vice
chairman of HRT’s governing board and a Norfolk City Councilman. "We know that
Philip will focus like a laser on delivering The Tide to Hampton Roads."
Prior to his work with
VDOT, Shucet worked for the West Virginia Department of Highways and the
Arizona Department of Transportation.
He was appointed by former Governor Mark Warner as VDOT commissioner
after a successful career in private industry.
