Bill Text: VA SJR143 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending James S. Utterback.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)
Status: (Passed) 2018-03-02 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ143ER) [SJR143 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SJR143-Introduced.html
Patrons-- Wagner, Howell, Lewis and Spruill; Delegates: Bloxom, Knight, McQuinn and Pogge
WHEREAS, James S. Utterback, a talented administrator who has spent nearly 20 years with the Virginia Department of Transportation, was selected to serve as project director of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project in January 2018; and
WHEREAS, James "Jim" Utterback earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Military Institute and a master's degree in business from Webster University in Missouri; he served his country in the United States Air Force for nearly 10 years and later retired from the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 1995, Jim Utterback worked as a program manager at the company ITT Defense and Electronics; in 1999, he joined the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and went on to serve as an engineer in its Management Services, Location and Design, and Innovative Project Delivery divisions; and
WHEREAS, after leading VDOT's Charlottesville Residency from 2005 to 2006, Jim Utterback served as a project manager in VDOT's Scheduling and Contracts Division; he then spent five years as administrator of VDOT's Culpeper District, where he oversaw nearly 500 employees; and
WHEREAS, Jim Utterback took the reins as administrator of VDOT's Hampton Roads District in 2013; along with leading over 800 state employees, he guided the District through a $1.2 billion construction program that included the I-64 High Rise Bridge as well as several other highway widening, resurfacing, and ramp improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, in January 2018, Jim Utterback was tapped to serve as project director of VDOT's Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project; in that role, he will oversee a $3.3 billion plan to build a new bridge tunnel and widen I-64 in both Hampton and Norfolk; and
WHEREAS, a visionary leader who has earned the respect of his colleagues, Jim Utterback is a superb choice to lead the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project, which will be the largest transportation project in Virginia history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend James S. Utterback on his selection as project director of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to James S. Utterback as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his exemplary service to the Commonwealth and best wishes for a successful project.
