METRO Celebrates Cinco de Mayo!

METRO staff and volunteers joined the vibrant celebration at the annual Cinco de Mayo parade in downtown Houston, hosted by LULAC District 8.

Among the parade highlights was METRO's high-water evacuation vehicle, a BMY 6x6 5-ton military cargo truck. The vehicle, a symbol of the Authority’s commitment to community service, has been a crucial asset during and after severe weather, traversing the Houston region to rescue citizens, transport medical personnel to the Texas Medical Center, and deliver life-saving supplies to helicopters for distribution.

New METRO Board Member Rev. T. Leon Preston was among those attending the festivities.

METRO Support Vehicle Master Mechanic Carlester Chatmon was on board. He is a seasoned emergency responder who has worked alongside rescue teams finding routes to move people around during weather emergencies, including dozens of METRO police officers.

Also on board was Gilberto Torrez, a veteran METRO bus operator who recently competed in the American Public Transportation Association's 2024 International Bus Rodeo in Portland, Oregon, following a first-place finish in Houston.

METRO Volunteers interacted with the parade-goers, distributing soccer balls and information on services in English and Spanish.

METRO Senior Public Engagement Manager Art Murillo stressed the importance of building trust and collaboration with the community.

"Cultivating successful community partnerships centered on trust, communication, and collaboration is at the heart of what we do," said Murillo. "To fulfill that mission, we need to empower communities and show them the value public transportation brings to neighborhoods. When we do that, everybody wins."

"Cultivating successful community partnerships centered on trust, communication, and collaboration is at the heart of what we do," says Art Murillo.