Metro Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) announced its Board of Directors honored retiring President & CEO Tom Lambert on Dec. 14 for his 45 years of service to the authority.

During its regular meeting, the Board recognized Lambert with a proclamation that highlighted his advocacy for enhanced customer experience, his commitment to public safety, and his contributions that improved public transit throughout the Houston region.

"Mr. Lambert, it's been an absolute honor working with you," said METRO Board Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran. "What you've done for Houston, the region and the transit industry — we appreciate it today, and we will appreciate it even more 10, 20, 30 years from now."

Ramabhadran also announced the creation of the Thomas C. Lambert Conference Center, a meeting facility located on the second level of METRO's Lee P. Brown Administration Building in downtown.

Tom Lambert Reflects on METRO Career

Lambert reflected on his decades at METRO, which included challenges such as Hurricane Harvey, Winter Storm Uri, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We took care of the customers, but we also made sure we took care of the employees that had to provide an essential service," said Lambert. "When you've got that foundation of a commitment to public service, there's nothing this agency cannot do."

Lambert began serving as president & CEO in 2013. He and METRO have received numerous awards and recognitions, including:

• The 2015 and 2020 “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award” from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

• The 2018 APTA “Outstanding Manager Award”

• The 2019 APTA “Rail Safety and Security Excellence Award”

• The 2018 APTA “Bus Safety and Security Excellence Award”

• The 2017 Texas Transit Association “Outstanding Metropolitan Transit System Award"

Lambert joined METRO in 1979, its first full year of operation. Following the creation of the METRO Police Department in 1982, Lambert became its first chief of police. He has also served as chief administrative officer and executive vice president.

Under Lambert's leadership, METRO expanded light rail service and redesigned its entire local bus network. The authority also expanded and improved METROLift, enhanced the customer experience with real-time service alerts, launched mobile ticketing, and created an Office of Innovation, which helped establish METRO's Climate Action Plan.

He continues to oversee the implementation of a voter-approved plan that includes 500 miles of travel improvements, including new METRO Rapid bus rapid transit projects, BOOST enhancements to high-frequency bus routes, and upgrades to 9,000 bus stops to ensure they meet or exceed ADA standards.