Sanjay Ramabhadran, an Indian-American engineer, has been appointed as the next chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. He will be the first person from the Indian-American community to lead the public transportation agency in Texas

FREMONT CA: Sanjay "Ram" Ramabhadran, a well-known Indian American engineer and long-time community leader, is set to become the first Indian American chair of Houston Metro, the state's largest transit authority. While announcing Ramabhadran's nomination, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner stated that "As a prepared and established leader, Sanjay is poised to head Texas' greatest metropolitan transit organization. His leadership will ensure that the ambitious MetroNext and other projects are completed successfully.” Serving the City of Houston and the broader region is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege, appreciating the trust and confidence, Ramabhadran quoted.

“The frontline workers strive to move Houstonians 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," he said. "Not just during the workweek or during a baseball game, but when it's most required, such as after a flood, hurricane, or pandemic." Since May 2015, Ramabhadran, a 51-year-old BITS Pilani and Texas A&M University alumnus, has served on the Metro Board of Directors. According to a press release from the mayor's office, he is the current Chair of the Capital & Strategic Planning Committee and a member of the Finance & Audit Committee.

He has helped in the planning, design, construction, and implementation of important projects, such as METRONext, that improve regional mobility. A multimillion-dollar program enabling universal accessibility for travelers with a variety of disabilities is one of the projects. He was also involved in the expansion of MetroRapid, the agency's bus rapid transit (BRT) system. Initially a single north-south route connecting Uptown to two major transit stations, the service will eventually expand to include the Inner Katy Line, which will connect Uptown and downtown, as well as the University Line, which will be the country's longest BRT line. As part of the BOOST program, he is striving to improve travel time, dependability, and access for 17 of Metro's high-ridership bus lines.

According to Governor Turner, the appointments of two distinguished individuals demonstrate Houston's strength as a diverse and inclusive community. "Our city is brimming with amazing talent. That gives me hope that no matter what obstacles we face, if we work together, we can overcome them." Rambhadran is also a past president of the Greater Houston Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACCGH). The Indian-American community praised his selection as well.