CHICAGO, August 7, 2026 — Metra, in partnership with WSP and The HOH Group, earned the 2026 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Outstanding Public Transportation Partnership Award.
This industry-wide honor recognizes their collaborative approach to supporting the Capital Delivery Program Management Office (PMO) for the Chicago regional commuter rail system.
The annual APTA award acknowledges a program or project that demonstrates exceptional partnership among a transit agency, a prime contractor and a small business partner.
The partnership between Metra, WSP and certified disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) partner HOH has strengthened how Metra plans, manages and delivers capital improvements across its commuter rail network.
Through the program, Metra has advanced improvements to stations, bridges, track and signal systems across the region while strengthening its ability to manage a growing portfolio of capital projects. These investments support reliable, accessible service and a better rider experience for communities throughout the Chicago region.
The integrated PMO team supports Metra with project planning, controls, engineering, construction oversight, communications, permitting and procurement, while helping build the systems, processes and capabilities needed to sustain the program over the long term.
Established to support the largest capital program in Metra’s history, the PMO has helped create a more structured, transparent and accountable approach to delivering projects. Metra’s 2026-2030 capital program includes approximately $2.12 billion in planned investments and 139 active projects spanning development, design, procurement and construction.
“This recognition reflects the power of partnership to create lasting value for communities that depend on reliable transit,” said Angela Schwarz, senior vice president, transit and rail market leader, WSP in the U.S. “Working alongside Metra and The HOH Group, we have helped establish a capital delivery program that accelerates critical infrastructure improvements while building the systems, skills and workforce needed to support Metra’s long-term success.”
Since implementation of the PMO, dozens of projects have advanced or been completed, moving critical improvements from planning into design, procurement and construction.
A key component of the award is the program’s commitment to small business participation and capacity building. Through its role on the PMO, HOH has expanded from one full-time employee supporting the program in 2020 to eight employees in 2026, reflecting the partnership’s emphasis on creating meaningful opportunities for DBE firms while strengthening the regional transit industry workforce.
“The award reflects an impressive collaboration between all of the partners and underscores Metra’s commitment to developing our regional workforce and delivering long-term capital programs that improve mobility in our community,” said Janice R. Thomas, Metra deputy executive director, external affairs/chief of staff. “Together we’re building enduring capacity to improve service reliability, increase access and provide more connections to jobs, education, services and opportunities.”
“This award is about how three organizations work together to deliver a capital program for one of the largest commuter rail networks in the country,” added Santiago Garcia, president and CEO, The HOH Group. “Metra sets the standard, WSP helps provide the scale and structure needed to deliver it, and our team helps make it happen every day. We are grateful to Metra for its continued leadership and to WSP for a genuine partnership and are proud of the people doing the work.”
“This program demonstrates how strong partnerships can help transit agencies deliver major capital programs while building lasting internal capacity,” said Jannet Walker-Ford, Advisory and Planning business line executive, WSP in the U.S. “By working as one team with Metra and HOH, we are advancing a model that supports more efficient project delivery, expands opportunity for small business partners and creates long-term value for the communities Metra serves.”
The award will be presented during the APTA TRANSform & EXPO conference in October, where representatives from Metra, WSP and The HOH Group are expected to accept the honor.
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in more than 50 countries and employs approximately 83,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. WSP in the U.S.’s team of approximately 27,000 professionals pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, and mining and metals sectors.