Posted: December 8, 2009

Pierce R. Homer
Secretary of Transportation
Commonwealth of Virginia

Pierce R. Homer was reappointed Virginia's secretary of transportation by Gov. Tim Kaine in January 2006, having also served in the position under Gov. Mark Warner. As secretary, Homer oversees management and budgeting for the departments of Transportation, Motor Vehicles, Aviation, and Rail and Public Transportation as well as for the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board and the Virginia Port Authority. He also serves as chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

Prior to his appointment as secretary, Homer served as deputy secretary of transportation with functional oversight of the Virginia Department of Transportation, private partnership programs and technology investments. As deputy secretary, he worked with the transportation agencies to develop and implement uniform cost and revenue estimating, debt management and accountability measures. Before joining the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, he spent 15 years with the Prince William County government in several senior management positions, including deputy county executive with direct oversight of county agencies. Homer earned a bachelor's degree from Haverford College in 1978 and a master's in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988.

What is the priority transportation project for Hampton Roads?

The realistic and affordable priority project for Hampton Roads is the Midtown Tunnel PPTA project.

How should it be funded?

It can be funded with a mix of tolls, private equity and public sector contributions as part of a public-private partnership.