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Release Date: Nov. 9, 2021
Media Hot Line: 713.739.4040 | Email: media@ridemetro.org

METRO's COVID-19 Safety Strategies Receive Industry Recognition

Essential employees onboard METRORail.

METRO is being recognized for its proactive safety measures in response to COVID-19 by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), during its annual conference and expo in Orlando, Florida.

Each year APTA recognizes transit agencies that implement successful programs or projects to address a specific safety or security initiative.  This year, METRO was named the winner of APTA's 2021 Rail COVID-19 Certificate of Merit award for Light Rail/Streetcar Systems for transit agencies with more than 20 million passenger trips annually. 

APTA selected METRO for its commitment to safeguarding the health of its employees and riders by implementing numerous safety mitigations that kept our community functioning during the height of the pandemic.

For example, METRO initially introduced free fares and rear-door entry,  enhanced cleanings, social distancing strategies, emergency-response partnerships, robust communications, and educational campaigns. Other COVID-19 safeguards included:

• Free shuttle services to COVID-19 vaccination sites.
• METROLift partnering with the city of Houston to deliver essential supplies to senior citizens and residents living with disabilities.
• Distributing more than 2 million face masks to riders since the agency began requiring the use of facial coverings last summer. 
• Installing protective shields around drivers' seats to add another layer of separation between operators and riders. 
• Providing access to hand sanitizer on METRO buses, METRORail, and METROLift.
• Putting an even greater emphasis on disinfecting surfaces and adding cleanings during peak hours.

In addition, METRO's Communications Department won numerous APTA 2021 AdWheel Awards for its educational video stories and last year it took home first place honors for "Rope a Ride with METRO," winning APTA's 2020 AdWheel Grand Award under the Best Marketing and Communications to Highlight Transit Needs/Funding category.  That 2020 award was presented in person at this year’s APTA conference.

Accepting APTA's 2020 Grand AdWheel Award on behalf of the Communications Department are (left to right) Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Andy Skabowski, Vice President of Customer Service Russ Frank, Chief Safety Officer Santiago Osorio, and Government Affairs Manager Jose Pulido.

Click on the image above to play the 2020 AdWheel Grand Award, Best Marketing and Communications video.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is the region’s largest public transit provider, offering safe, clean, reliable, accessible and friendly transportation services. METRO’s transit network includes local bus, METRORail, which includes the Red Line (Main Street and Northline), the Green Line (East End) and the Purple Line (Southeast), Park & Ride commuter buses, METROLift paratransit service, HOV/HOT Express Lanes, Community Connector shuttle service and METRO Star Vanpool. In 2020, the Authority introduced the METRORapid Silver Line, the region’s first bus rapid transit service. Bike & Ride programs and road improvement projects are also part of METRO’s commitment to the Houston region. Focused on investing in the region’s future mobility needs, the Authority developed the METRONext Moving Forward Plan. METRO is also the first transit provider in the region to pilot autonomous vehicle shuttle technology. Learn more about METRO services at RideMETRO.org, where you will also find useful tools like the RideMETRO app where you can plan your trip and even pay your fare from your phone.