Houston METRO Expands Efforts to Support Business Owners
The Veteran Owned Business Enterprise and the Disability Owned Business Enterprise programs will be run by the Office of Economic Business Opportunity, formerly known as the Office of Small Business.
The programs will allow the office to identify and target the businesses more effectively, implement more inclusive practices, and assist in providing a full and fair opportunity to compete for procurement opportunities with METRO.
Houston METRO
Houston METRO’s board voted to create two programs to ensure equal access and opportunity for veterans and people living with a disability seeking to do business with the authority.
The Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE) and the Disability Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) programs will be run by the Office of Economic Business Opportunity, formerly known as the Office of Small Business.
The programs will allow the office to identify and target the businesses more effectively, implement more inclusive practices, and assist in providing a full and fair opportunity to compete for procurement opportunities with METRO.
"This is a step in the right direction to benefit many business owners in their reach," said Board Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran
The Office of Economic Business Opportunity also operates the Small/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SB/DBE) programs with an annual goal of 35% small business participation.
"This is a very important program that we have been looking at for some time," said Board Member Lex Frieden. "I want to applaud METRO's staff for putting together a great plan for a program that will benefit our community."
More Management
METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Motorcoach Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for METRO Magazine’s Operator of the Year and Innovative Operator of the Year awards.
Read More →
New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit
Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.
Read More →
NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program at First Board Meeting
The new regional transit authority appointed its first board chair and interim executive director while extending reduced fares across CTA, Metra, and Pace for eligible riders.
Read More →
Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance
Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.
Read More →
APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees
Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.
Read More →
DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative
The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.
Read More →
Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation
Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
Read More →
Game Day in Motion: Moving Millions During the 2026 World Cup
Between packed transit stations and team motorcoaches, see how agencies and operators across North America tackled the transportation demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Read More →
Surface Transportation Extension Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap
The stopgap keeps federal transportation programs moving, but missing advance funding could complicate the transit and rail projects agencies are planning next.
Read More →