The more often you ride, the more money you save. Purchase a physical RideMETRO Fare Card for $2 or use a free virtual RideMETRO Fare Card to earn one free ride after every 10 paid rides with our 1-for-10 loyalty program.
On this page, you'll find:
| Service | Fare Zone | Regular Fare | Discounted Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
Local Bus Fares are the same on all local routes. | n/a | $1.25 | $0.60 |
METRORail Fares are the same on all METRORail lines. | n/a | $1.25 | $0.60 |
METRO curb2curb Fares are the same for all curb2curb zones. | n/a | $1.25 | $0.60 |
Park & Ride Commuter Express Bus Routes are divided into different zones throughout Houston and Harris County. Your fare is based on the zone where you board. | |||
Zone 1
| $2.00 | $1.00 | |
Zone 2
| $3.25 | $1.60 | |
Zone 3
| $3.75 | $1.85 | |
Zone 4
| $4.50 | $2.25 | |
n/a | $1.25 | $0.60 | |
METROLift To use this service, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. Learn more about METROLift | |||
METRO Vanpool To use this service, you must first register for an account. Learn more about METRO Vanpool | |||
Children five or younger ride free when accompanied by an adult.
If you fit one of the categories below, you may be eligible to receive a discounted fare:
Students are eligible to ride for half price. Certain documents must be submitted by a student or their parent for our review before a discounted fare can be applied.
K-12 Students
You’ll need to provide one of the following:
College / Trade School Students
You’ll need to provide a government-issued photo ID and one of the following:
Online
You can apply for a RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the METRO Online RideStore (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link). You'll need to upload an electronic copy of your required documents.
Once approved, you'll be mailed your RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the United States Postal Service.
In Person
You can bring your required documents to any of these METRO RideStore locations.
K-12 students should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
RideMETRO App
You must purchase a physical RideMETRO Discount Fare Card online or in person. Once you've received your physical card, you can convert it to a virtual card in the RideMETRO app. After you convert it, your physical card will be deactivated and can no longer be used.
Seniors 65-69 are eligible to ride for half price. METRO will first have to confirm your age before a discounted fare can be applied.
You’ll need to provide a government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth (e.g., driver’s license, state ID).
Online
You can apply for a RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the METRO Online RideStore (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link). You'll need to upload an electronic copy of your ID.
Once approved, you'll be mailed your RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the United States Postal Service.
In Person
You can bring your ID to any of these METRO RideStore locations.
RideMETRO App
You must purchase a physical RideMETRO Discount Fare Card online or in person. Once you've received your physical card, you can convert it to a virtual card in the RideMETRO app. After you convert it, your physical card will be deactivated and can no longer be used.
People with disabilities who are not METROLift customers may be eligible to ride for half price. METRO will first have to confirm your eligibility before a discounted fare can be applied.
Non-METROLift customers
You’ll need to provide a government-issued photo ID along with one of the following as proof of disability:
NOTE: The Social Security Award letter is not acceptable for verification unless the actual disability is noted or Medicare benefits are listed.
METROLift customers
This doesn’t apply to you. You should have received information about purchasing a METROLift Fare Card when you were approved to become a customer. That card entitles you to ride free on the services shown in this section.
In Person
You can bring your ID and proof of disability to any of these METRO RideStore locations.
RideMETRO App
You must purchase a physical RideMETRO Discount Fare Card in person. Once you've received your physical card, you can convert it to a virtual card in the RideMETRO app. After you convert it, your physical card will be deactivated and can no longer be used.
Seniors 70 years or older are eligible to ride for free. METRO will first have to confirm your age before a discounted fare can be applied.
You’ll need to provide a government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth (e.g., driver’s license, state ID).
Online
You can apply for a RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the METRO Online RideStore (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link). You'll need to upload an electronic copy of your ID.
Once approved, you'll be mailed your RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the United States Postal Service.
In Person
You can bring your ID to any of these METRO RideStore locations.
RideMETRO App
You must purchase a physical RideMETRO Discount Fare Card online or in person. Once you've received your physical card, you can convert it to a virtual card in the RideMETRO app. After you convert it, your physical card will be deactivated and can no longer be used.
Qualified veterans are eligible to ride for free. Certain documents must be signed and stamped by the Veterans Affairs office. You must have earned a medal of valor or suffered a certain type of disability as a result of military service. METRO will first have to confirm your eligibility before a discounted fare can be applied.
You’ll need to provide:
Online
You can apply through the METRO Online RideStore (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link). You'll need to upload an electronic copy of your ID and completed application (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link).
Once approved, you'll be mailed your RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the United States Postal Service.
In Person
You can bring your ID and completed application (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) (Open external link) to any of these METRO RideStore locations.
RideMETRO App
You must purchase a physical RideMETRO Discount Fare Card online or in person. Once you've received your physical card, you can convert it to a virtual card in the RideMETRO app. After you convert it, your physical card will be deactivated and can no longer be used.
If you get called for jury duty in Harris County, METRO wants to make it as easy as possible for you to get downtown.
On your way to the courthouse, on your first day of jury duty, show your jury summons to the bus operator or fare inspector. When you're finished with jury duty on the first day, you'll need to request a temporary fare card that can be used on any service.
You'll need to tap your temporary fare card on the fare validator every time you board a bus or enter a METRORail platform.
The card will expire at 2 a.m. after the first tap on a validator.
The Harris County Jury Plaza, located at 1201 Congress St., has several routes that stop nearby. You can find the routes, schedules and more here.
This program allows employers and organizations to help cover the cost of riding METRO. For employers, it can replace taxable pay or be added as an extra tax-free perk.
There are several METRO RideStores and retail locations across the Houston region where you can obtain or reload a RideMETRO Fare Card. Just enter your ZIP code below to find stores near you. Each entry will show what you can obtain at that location.
Tap any map pin for more details, including address and available ticket types. On the map, select the icon in the top left corner for a listing of all locations and a legend for the color-coded map pins. Select the icon in the top right corner to open a larger version of the map in a new window. This map is best viewed on a desktop computer.
METRO RideStore Locations
Retail Locations (METROLift Tickets & Passes)
Retail Locations (Reload Only)
Retail Locations (Buy and Reload)
METRO Ticket Vending Machines (TVM)
There are multiple options for paying your fare.
In addition to the payment methods shown below, you can pay with cash on local bus and Park & Ride bus. When using cash, deposit it into the fare box at the front of the vehicle. No change is given and free transfers are not included.
The regular fare is $1.25 and the discounted fare is 60 cents for the following services:
For METRO Park & Ride bus service, the regular fare to board ranges from $2 to $4.50 depending on your location. The discounted fare is half price.
The following passengers ride free:
Yes, with a pre-approved RideMETRO Discount Fare Card, the following individuals are eligible to ride for half price on local bus, Park & Ride bus, METRORail, METRO curb2curb and Community Connector:
Yes, the following individuals are eligible to ride free on local bus, Park & Ride bus, METRORail, METRO curb2curb and Community Connector:
You can obtain a RideMETRO Fare Card for $2 and load money on it at any of the following:
3-Hour and Day Pass tickets can only be purchased from TVMs located on METRORail platforms.
More details can be found on the All About Fares page.
The RideMETRO Fare Card functions as a debit card for riding METRO. You can continually load and store money on it, and money will be deducted when you pay your fare.
Your account balance will appear on the fare validator after you've tapped to pay or transfer. You can also check it by:
You'll need to tap or scan the fare validator as you enter a METRO local bus, Park & Ride bus, curb2curb vehicle, Community Connector vehicle or METRORail platform.
The following payment methods will need to be tapped on the fare validator:
The following payment methods will require you to scan the QR code six inches under the fare validator:
*A Day Pass on a RideMETRO Fare Card is not valid on Park & Ride.
On buses, you can also pay with cash by depositing it into a fare box at the front of the vehicle as you board. No change is given and free transfers are not included.
Each rider must tap or scan their own form of payment. You cannot pay fares for multiple people using the same payment method.
Fare inspectors and METRO Police conduct regular fare checks on the system.
More details can be found on the All About Fares page.
No. Each rider must tap or scan their own form of payment. You cannot pay fares for multiple people using the same payment method.
Children five or younger ride free when accompanied by an adult.
Yes, you'll receive free transfers between any METRO service of equal or lesser value for up to three hours if you pay using your:
*3-Hour Passes and Day Passes are not valid on Park & Ride.
For transfers to a service with a higher cost, you only pay the fare difference for up to three hours.
The Day Pass is a $3 pass that gives you unlimited rides on METRO Local Bus, METRORail, METRO curb2curb and Community Connector through 2 a.m. the next day.
It's not valid on Park & Ride bus.
The Day Pass that’s part of the RideMETRO fare system comes in two forms:
It costs $3 and provides unlimited rides on METRO Local Bus, METRORail METRO curb2curb and Community Connector through 2 a.m. the next day, but it cannot be used to board or transfer to a Park & Ride bus.
If your trip includes Park & Ride bus, you should not purchase a Day Pass.
The Day Pass can only be used on METRO Local Bus, METRORail, METRO curb2curb and Community Connector.
It's not valid on Park & Ride bus.
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