I count myself fortunate to be a native of Hampton Roads. We are strategically positioned to be a visionary region with our eyes on the horizon, not the past. Centuries of maritime and military history are woven into our DNA, giving us a global perspective that ranks as our greatest asset.
My roots in this region cause me to be strongly invested in our collective future. I take pride in the successes we have realized over the years, but I also experience frustration when I see opportunities missed.
In my roles as a former state Cabinet secretary for transportation and finance, chair of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Directors, and in my current position as a leader with Sentara Health, I’ve observed a clear pattern. When we work together as a united community of interest, we make remarkable advances from a position of strength. When we are divided, we undermine our economic prosperity.
Our local independent governments, as defined in the Code of Virginia, breed parochialism. But we don’t have to be defined in narrow legalistic terms that can become an excuse for hampering progress. Creative minds and a commitment to the greater good can prevail.
Regional transportation opportunities offer both positive and not-so-positive examples.
As numerous news accounts have detailed, the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport is struggling to maintain commercial air service. Passenger counts have deteriorated from 1 million in 2012 to 150,000 in fiscal year 2023. As a result, expenses have exceeded revenues for the past five years. A study commissioned by the Hampton Roads Alliance found persistent operational deficits, an unsustainable financial model and a critical need for a strategic shift in approach.
Appropriate discussions about diversifying the airport’s focus are underway, but more is needed if Hampton Roads is going to enjoy the exceptional air travel services our residents and businesses need to thrive. We must stop competing against each other and start behaving in the way that commercial airlines already see us: as a single market.
We don’t need to look far to see the benefits we can achieve from consolidation of our regional airport facilities under common oversight.
The Port of Virginia is strong because of consolidated operations of all the local terminal facilities with the Port of Richmond. Thanks to strategic investments made in recent years, we have modernized our terminals and built capacity for the future to support our regional and state economy. Operations are profitable and sustainable.
As a result of the collaboration of all stakeholders in the region, we have a unified, efficient port system that is growing its business and building trust across the global maritime industry. If regional leaders had not made this important decision years ago, individual local ports would still be consuming energy on internal rivalries and falling behind other East Coast ports.
Similarly, the creation of the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) in 2014 has empowered our region to oversee historic investments in transportation projects that connect our region, improve safety and spur economic growth. The mayors, legislators and Commonwealth Transportation Board members on HRTAC are well-positioned to work with each other and the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization and Virginia Department of Transportation to advocate for our region.
My experiences echo in my new role in the health care field as well as other economic sectors in Hampton Roads. Each sector is grappling with rapid change and the need for diversification, growth and strategic planning. If we are going to meet the needs of our communities, make smart investments for the future and attract a quality workforce, we must work together, and we must celebrate the successes and accomplishments of our regional businesses and leaders. If we fail to do so, we stand to lose key contributors to our economic prosperity.
I urge leaders throughout the region to rise above the silos that hamper our progress and embrace a vision for a united Hampton Roads that empowers us all to achieve the excellence that is within our reach.
Aubrey Layne is executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Sentara Health and chair of the Virginia Port Authority Board of Directors. He served as secretary of transportation under Gov. Terry McAuliffe and secretary of finance under Gov. Ralph Northam.
