Va. transportation and rail director announces departure
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Director Jennifer Mitchell will leave her post March 18 as she plans to take a new federal government job, Gov. Glenn Youngkin‘s office announced Friday. Jennifer DeBruhl, who has served as the department’s chief of public transportation for more than five years, will serve as acting director. Appointed […]
A sampling of Virginia’s major road projects
HAMPTON ROADS Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project Construction on the $3.8 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) expansion — the largest highway construction project in Virginia’s history — began in October 2020. The project will widen the four-lane segments of the 9.9-mile Interstate 64 corridor in Norfolk and Hampton to six lanes and create twin two-lane […]
Hubs and spokes
Economic conditions bounced back across many sectors in 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic still impacted development deals occurring in Virginia. The state saw a great deal of focus on manufacturing and supply chain growth, areas expected to stay busy despite the recent change in state political leadership. In Hampton Roads, many of the region’s major […]
J.B. Hunt to acquire Bassett Furniture subsidiary for $87M
A subsidiary of Lowell, Arkansas-based transportation company J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a subsidiary of Bassett-based home furniture manufacturer and marketer Bassett Furniture Industries Inc. for $87 million, the companies announced Monday. J.B. Hunt Transport Services’ wholly owned subsidiary, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., will acquire[...]
Elizabeth River Crossings announces CEO
Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo LLC (ERC) has promoted Anna Bonet to CEO, the company announced Wednesday. ERC finances, operates and maintains the Elizabeth River Tunnels from Portsmouth to Norfolk. Bonet joined ERC as deputy CEO in September 2021 and worked with former CEO David Sullivan, who announced his retirement last week. “I remain committed to […]
Elizabeth River Crossings CEO announces retirement
Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo LLC (ERC) CEO David Sullivan announced his retirement, effective Jan. 21. ERC finances, operates and maintains the Elizabeth River Tunnels. A new CEO will be named next week. ERC owners Abertis Infraestructuras S.A. and Manulife Investment Management named Sullivan CEO in January 2021. He had previously served as director of revenue, […]
Youngkin announces transportation secretary
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin announced Friday W. Sheppard “Shep” Miller III, former chairman of Virginia Beach-based defense contractor KITCO Fiber Optics, as his state secretary of transportation. “Shep will be an invaluable leader as secretary of transportation as we fulfill our promises to all Virginians to invest in roads, highways and transportation infrastructure in every corner […[...]
Sen. Kaine back in D.C. after being stuck on I-95 for 27 hours
This story was updated Jan. 4 at 4:20 p.m. After being stranded with hundreds of other motorists on Interstate 95 for nearly 27 hours, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine arrived at his office in Washington, D.C., just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to CNBC. The 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday […]
HRBT expansion boring? Yes and no
Already the largest project ever tackled by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the $3.8 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion will kick into gear later this year when a $70 million custom-built tunnel boring machine (TBM) begins carving out an underwater path for twin two-lane tunnels. Construction on the HRBT expansion, which will increase tunnel and […]
Bedford lays tracks for possible Amtrak stop
Leigh Ann Ellis is all aboard for Amtrak to begin stopping in the town of Bedford. In the past, Ellis, a journalism teacher at Bedford County’s Staunton River High School, had her students board the train in Lynchburg for field trips to New York or Washington, D.C. For students who live in Goodview, on the […]
Mentorship and management
Brought to you by Virginia Business and Bank of America, in 2021 we hosted a diverse group of six Virginia business leaders for three Diversity Leadership Series events. These virtual fireside chats featured the executives sharing their insights on leadership, their career paths, and diversity and equity. The third installment of our series took place […]
Trucking on: How truckers are battling historic labor shortage
RICHMOND — From hand sanitizer and vaccines to groceries and toilet paper, truck drivers are trucking through the COVID-19 pandemic despite a historic labor shortage. Many industries moved workers home during the start of the pandemic, but truckers worked “to meet the needs of this country.” “The trucking industry has stepped up and delivered through […]