The governing board of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) announced Thursday that it has selected Philip A. Shucet as HRT’s president and CEO.

Shucet is the former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) 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, he 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.”

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.