The firms, O’Neill and Associates, whose roster includes the former managing director of the NTSB, and Hill + Knowlton Strategies, which has previously done work for the transit agency, will assist the agency.
Dupont Circle Metro Station with trains - NCinDC via Flickr
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Dupont Circle Metro Station with trains - NCinDC via Flickr
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Metro has hired two high-powered firms to help the transit agency rebuild its image in the wake of a fatal Jan. 12 smoke incident, The Washington Post reported.
The agency — which is still reeling from the incident, in which one person died and scores of passengers were hospitalized — also is dealing with the botched search for a new chief executive, the Post reported.
The firms — O’Neill and Associates, whose roster includes the former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, and Hill + Knowlton Strategies, which has previously done work for the transit agency — will assist Metro “with the development of a reputation management communications plan,” interim General Manager Jack Requa said in a memo. For the full story, click here.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.