Scheduling Trips

How Do I Schedule A METROLift Trip? All trips are scheduled one day in advance by calling for a reservation at 713-225-6716 and pressing 1 to use the MACS automated scheduling system. To use METROLift Automated Calling System (MACS) you will need your client I.D. and your password, then simply follow the menu. MACS is available: 7 days a week 5 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Or call the METROLift reservation office:
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for next day trips
Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for Saturday, Sunday and Monday

METROLift is a shared-ride service. Remember when making a reservation, allow a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes for travel. Our concern is to get you to your appointments on time. Allow time to travel to your destination, taking into consideration the time it takes to pick up other patrons.

Remember, you must have METROLift fare tickets or a monthly pass to ride. Cash is not accepted.

You can eliminate confusion and unnecessary follow-up calls by having pencil and paper near the telephone so that you can write the estimated scheduled time the operator gives you.

When you call:

1. Spell out your full name.
2. Have the specific pickup and destination addresses, including any description of the location (e.g. Airport Landing Apts., etc.). Remember, you must have the specific address; METROLift operators are unable to look up an address without causing delay to other patrons calling for appointments.
3. Confirm your telephone numbers with the reservation operator.
4. Write down your ESTIMATED scheduled times. Remember that these times can change plus or minus 20 minutes. You should call the Dispatch office or MACS at 713-225-0410 after 7 p.m. the night before or on the day of service to verify your times. The automated MACS feature is available from 4 a.m. - 1 a.m. 7 days/week.
5. If you are traveling with an attendant or a companion, you must inform the reservation operator when you schedule your trip. An attendant is someone who assists you while you are traveling and rides free. A companion is someone who is accompanying you on your trip and must pay one ticket. Multiple companions (more than one) are scheduled on a space available basis and each pays for service regardless of age.

On certain holidays, METROLift closes the Reservation and Customer Service offices and has fewer vehicles scheduled for service. Holiday trips are usually scheduled on the last day before the holiday. Call METROLift Customer Service at 713-225-0119 (TDD 713-652-8969) for information about specific holidays. The holidays observed by METRO are:

New Year's Day
Labor Day
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
Thanksgiving Day
Memorial Day
Friday after Thanksgiving
Independence Day
Christmas Day  

Subscription Service

Subscription trip service may be available, on a limited basis, to those METROLift patrons traveling to and from the same location at the same time 3 or more days per week on a long-term basis. Once instituted, the subscription users no longer need to call the reservation line. At present, 50% of our daily riders use our subscription trip service, which is the maximum allowed under the transportation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Therefore, new subscriptions are very limited.

Subscription riders must cancel, in advance, any trips they will not be using.

Changes to existing subscription rides can be requested through the METROLift Customer Service Office. Changes are not guaranteed and will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If the changes are not able to be accommodated, you can request a new subscription.

Note: Subscription service is not available on holidays. Patrons who have subscription trips and still need to travel on a holiday, must call and schedule a reservation at 713-225-0119 (TDD 713-652-8969) prior to the holiday.