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Commending William E. Harrell.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 11, 2026
WHEREAS, after 14 years of exceptional leadership and service to the Hampton Roads Region, William E. Harrell will retire as the president and chief executive officer of Hampton Roads Transit in 2026; and
WHEREAS, William Harrell joined Hampton Roads Transit in 2012, having previously served as city manager of Chesapeake and held various other leadership roles in local government administration; and
WHEREAS, as president and chief executive officer of Hampton Roads Transit, William Harrell oversaw a $150 million budget, 1,050 employees, a fleet of more than 270 buses and trolleys serving 62 routes, paratransit vehicles, four ferries, and nine rail cars on the Commonwealth's only light rail system; and
WHEREAS, William Harrell worked diligently to expand transit options, enhance the customer experience, promote financial stability for the organization, adopt new technologies to better serve the public, and support the regional economy by ensuring efficient and effective transit networks; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, William Harrell secured funding for the 757 Express, a network of local and regional bus routes offering 15-minute service frequencies in support of major employers, and oversaw the launch of Base Express, a free shuttle service for workers at Naval Station Norfolk, as well as pilot programs for on-demand ridesharing; and
WHEREAS, William Harrell also provides his insights and expertise to the Virginia Transit Association, the American Public Transportation Association, and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce as a regional board member; and
WHEREAS, among many accolades over the course of his career, William Harrell was selected by
Virginia Business
magazine as one of the top Black Business Leaders in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That William E. Harrell hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement as chief executive officer of Hampton Roads Transit in 2026; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to William E. Harrell as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his legacy of contributions to the Hampton Roads Region.