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The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) received a gold rating for financial transparency from the Texas State Comptroller as part of the Leadership Circle Awards program.

This is the third consecutive year the agency has earned the program's top honor, METRO officials said in a prepared statement. The agency earned 13 of 15 points on the controller's rating criteria in 2010; 18 of 20 points in 2011; and 19 of 20 points in 2012.

METRO was judged on criteria that included its annual financial report, check register, financial transparency web page, public information request and ease of access to financial documents, agency officials said.

"We are proud to win the award for the third consecutive year. Openness and transparency have been top priorities for the new METRO," said Chairman Gilbert Garcia.

Capital Metro in Austin is the only other Texas transit agency to have earned the gold award.

The award marks the second time this year that METRO's finance team has been recognized for its work. In October, the team received a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association.