Hampton Roads Transit names Jackson director of transit development

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) has appointed Jamie Jackson as its new director of transit development.

Jackson will now conduct the planning and project management necessary for multimodal transit services, oversee high-capacity corridor expansion activities and manage fixed guide-way enhancements at the corridor level throughout the HRT service area, which representatives say may become eligible for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts funding or other state and federal support.

Jackson most recently served as the deputy executive director at Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA), where she was responsible for project management and oversaw the company’s capital programs totaling in value at more than $14 million. She also managed WATA’s staff in the following departments: information technology, marketing and communications, budget and grants, and procurement.

“We are very pleased to have Ms. Jackson come on board to actively advance studies for the extension of high-capacity transit,” said William E. Harrell, president and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit. “Her transit background and project management experience are exactly what Hampton Roads Transit needs to assist in the development of a regional plan for a multi-modal transportation system.”

Under her new role, Jackson is expected to coordinate with government bodies as well as other agencies to plan, design and implement processes related to HRT’s work. She will work with HRT’s senior executive team to secure funding for proposed and scheduled regional transit projects. She will also coordinate potential land use strategies and land use planning with local governments to further support transit projects. Jackson reports to Chief Planning & Development Officer Ray Amoruso.

“I am excited about the privilege of working with the visionary leadership at HRT and throughout the region to continue to advance transit projects and priorities,” Jackson said. “Our work at HRT will have a positive impact and improve the quality of life in communities and for business throughout Hampton Roads. HRT has been strategic and transformational in how it has engaged the public, the region and businesses on all modes of transit. I look forward to working as a part of the team to implement HRT’s vision.”

Jackson received her master’s of public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned a bachelor of arts in international relations from the College of William and Mary. She has taken on several professional development opportunities including National Transit Institute’s Project Management for Transit Professionals, Understanding ADA and Procurement and an orientation to transit procurement. She has also completed a Triennial Review Workshop by the FTA.