First Transit wins Houston METRO paratransit services contract
Randy Hendrickson, a transportation professional with more than 20 years of experience, will serve as First Transit’s GM for the METROLift paratransit services.
First Transit was awarded the transit management contract for METROLift, the paratransit service of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) in Houston.
METROLift provides transportation for persons with disabilities who cannot board, ride or disembark from a METRO fixed-route bus.
“The First Transit team is excited to bring our transportation expertise and technology solutions to the partnership with METROLift,” said First Transit Sr. VP Beverly Edwards. “We look forward to providing safe and efficient transportation to the region.”
First Transit will implement Info-Suite and Paperless Shop to provide an excellent experience for passengers and real-time monitoring of METROLift operations. Paperless Shop technology enables technicians to generate immediate maintenance and repair orders on tablets to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Info-Suite addresses all aspects of service management, from review and performance of the fleet to planning, reporting and analysis of each route.
Randy Hendrickson, a transportation professional with more than 20 years of experience, will serve as First Transit’s GM for the METROLift paratransit services.
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.