Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is the regional public transportation authority serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Founded in 1999, HRT operates a multimodal system that moves over 22 million annual passengers across six cities: Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The system includes bus service, light rail (The Tide), ferry service, paratransit for individuals with disabilities, microtransit, and specialized services like the VB Wave trolley and OnDemand rideshare programs.
For a cybersecurity professional, the threat model here is broad and physical. The attack surface spans operational technology (OT) controlling light rail signaling and vehicle systems, IT networks managing fare collection and dispatch, and the data flowing from millions of passenger interactions. The mission-critical nature of public transit means system integrity isn't just about data - it's about public safety. A compromised dispatch system or signaling network has immediate, tangible consequences.
HRT's commitment to reliable, safe, and efficient service puts security squarely in the critical path. The role involves protecting infrastructure that supports a region's economic mobility, requiring a focus on both the digital systems that manage operations and the OT environments that control physical assets. This is about securing the backbone of regional connectivity.
