Esperanza “Hope” Andrade
Esperanza “Hope” Andrade of San Antonio has been an influential and dedicated leader, innovator and advocate for the Texas transportation community. She was the second woman appointed to the Texas Transportation Commission and the first to serve as chair. Her contributions resulted in impactful, multimodal transportation solutions and record-breaking funding for roadways and safety initiatives. She received the Texas Department of Transportation’s Texas Roadhand Award in 2014 and Russell H. Perry Award in 2016.
Andrade was chair of the VIA Metropolitan Transit Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2019, having previously served on the board. Under her leadership, the agency expanded access and developed innovative approaches to service delivery. These efforts resulted in VIA’s recognition as the outstanding metropolitan transit agency in Texas in 2015 and 2017 and as a recipient of the American Public Transportation Association’s Innovation Award in 2018.
While serving as Texas’ first Latina Secretary of State and as a member of the Texas Workforce Commission, Andrade championed transportation infrastructure and its importance to the state’s economy. Insightful public service to her beloved San Antonio community and the state of Texas is her legacy.