A Million Miles of Safety: Operator Art Belton Reflects on Four Decades of Service

For nearly 40 years, Rail Operator Art Belton has been a steady, reassuring presence at METRO, quietly helping generations of Houstonians get where they need to go with consistency, care, and professionalism. Recently, Art accomplished a remarkable personal achievement: more than one million miles of service on METRO buses and rail, completed without a single safety incident. 

Art joined METRO in 1985, shortly after leaving the military. With a young family to support, he was searching for stability and purpose, and he found both behind the wheel of a METRO bus.

“When I applied for METRO, I had just gotten out of the military and I had a family,” Art said. “I found out METRO was hiring, so I applied, and they hired me.”

He spent his first two decades as a bus operator, driving nearly every major route across Houston, from Acres Homes to Bellaire and Richmond to South Main. And in each neighborhood, he found the same reward: the people he served every day.

“My first couple of years, I enjoyed it,” he recalled. “I enjoyed transporting passengers to their workplace. I liked meeting people. They were friendly, and I realized I made a good choice coming to METRO.”

When METRO launched its light-rail system, Art embraced the opportunity to grow with the organization. After 20 years on the bus, he stepped into a new chapter as one of the first operators on the METRORail Red Line in 2004. He has remained there for another two decades, once again maintaining a perfect safety record.

Though the work is different, Art says the foundation that shaped his success has never changed: safety training, discipline, and a commitment to consistency. 

“What I used to do to achieve those million miles was the Smith System,” he explained. “It’s about operating safely, and that’s been instilled in us from day one.”

With more than a million miles behind him, and more still ahead, his motivation today is the same as it was when he first started.

“Moving forward, what it means to me is the enjoyment of doing the job,” he shared. “And still being able to take care of my family.”

His family, now grown, proudly celebrates his achievement.

“My children are now adults, but they’re very excited that their father is still healthy enough to come to work every day,” Art said with a smile.

Even after four decades, Art remains humble. He never set out to break records. He set out to do his job well, show up every day, and make sure people arrived home safely.

“When I first started at METRO, I never thought about accomplishing something like this,” he admitted. “I was focused on being consistent, taking care of my family, and doing my job in a safe manner.”  

Art Belton (in the back, far right, wearing the black cardigan) poses with the first group of METRORail operators in 2004.