Routes 2 & 4: Police ActivityNORFOLK, Va. — Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is celebrating Transit Employee Appreciation Day on March 18 as part of a month-long recognition of workers who keep the region moving.
“On National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, we express our sincere gratitude for the dedication and hard work of more than 1,000 of our employees,” said William E. Harrell, HRT’s President and CEO.
“Whether operating or maintaining a bus or light rail, assisting our passengers, or working to support our operations, their efforts are essential to the communities we serve, connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare and essential services. The work they do has a direct impact on the lives of countless individuals and our region’s economy.”
National Transit Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on March 18 to honor the operators, mechanics, and staff who keep public transit running.
HRT customers are encouraged to thank operators when they board or leave transit. HRT currently has “I love public transit” signs at its transit centers where customers can snap a selfie and share on social media.
HRT’s governing body, the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads, adopted a resolution last month proclaiming March as Transit Employee Appreciation Month, urging Hampton Roads residents, businesses and community organizations to recognize and express their appreciation for the hard work and dedication of transit employees.
“Transit employees play a vital role in connecting our communities, supporting economic growth, and promoting environmental sustainability,” the resolution stated, and that “transit employees often work long hours, including nights, weekends and holidays, to ensure transit users have access to community services and many other personal, social, and civic opportunities.”
Started in 2009 by transit passengers in Seattle, the day commemorates the world’s first bus line in 1662, a horse-drawn carriage in Paris.
About HRT
HRT’s mission is to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable. For more information on transit services, visit gohrt.com.
Media Contact:
Thomas Becher, APR
Manager, Communications
Cell: (757) 354-0564
tbecher@hrtransit.org
March 12, 2026