From June 1 - Aug. 31, 2023, K-12 and college students with a valid, active discounted METRO Q® Fare Card ride free on the following services:
Find more information about the program below.
If you fit one of the categories below, and you don't already have an active discounted METRO Q® Fare Card, you may be eligible to receive one. It entitles you to ride free this summer and receive discounted fares for the rest of the year.
Certain documents must be submitted by a student or their parent for our review before a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card can be issued.
You’ll need to provide one of the following:
You may also need to provide a completed application signed by a parent or legal guardian.
In-person
If accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, you can bring a class schedule or report card to any of these METRO RideStore locations:
If not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, a completed application signed by a parent or legal guardian will also be required.
Online
You can also obtain a discounted card through the METRO Online RideStore. To do this, you'll be required to upload an electronic copy of your class schedule or report card. That submission will serve as your application.
U.S. Mail
Mail a copy of your completed application along with a photocopy of your class schedule or report card. The return address is already included on the application.
If you attend a participating college, you can obtain a discounted fare card on your campus. If you attend a different college, you’ll need to submit certain documents for review.
Click on your school to see how and where to obtain a METRO discounted fare card.
You’ll need to provide a government-issued photo ID and proof of credit hours.
From June 1 - Aug. 31, 2023, students with a valid, active discounted METRO Q® Fare Card can ride the following METRO services for free:
If you have a METRO Q® Fare Card that's been discounted for students, you can use the card you already have. During the promotion, funds won’t be deducted when you pay your fare and your card balance won’t change.
If you have a METRO Q® Fare Card that's been discounted for people with disabilities, your card is programmed to include certain benefits that are different from the card needed for this promotion. So, you’ll need to get a METRO Q® Fare Card that's been discounted for students.
Summer programs, schools and camps with 10 or more students can register their students for the free ride promotion.
For more information on registering your group, you can do any of the following:
It’s a card that functions as a debit card for riding METRO. You can continually load and store money on it – and then a half price fare will be deducted each time you pay.
From June 1–Aug. 31, 2023, students can use a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card to ride free, with no fare amount deducted any time during those dates.
Tap your METRO Q® Fare Card on the fare validator.
Validators are located:
If you prefer to go contactless, you can wave your card close to the validator as well. Make sure the light registers green in the upper right when you tap or wave.
No. The card can only be used for the student to whom it's registered. If you try to use it for a second rider, a red light will flash on the validator and the words “NO PASSBACK” will appear on the screen.
You can obtain a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card through the METRO Online RideStore and your card will be sent via U.S. mail.
You can also obtain a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card at any METRO RideStore location:
Downtown Transit Center
1900 Main St.
Houston, Texas 77002
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone: 713-739-6968
Main Street Square
1001 Travis St.
Houston, Texas 77002
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone: 713-652-8994
Northwest Transit Center
7373 Old Katy Road
Houston, Texas 77024
Hours: Mon-Fri, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone: 713-739-6031
Fannin South Transit Center
1604 West Bellfort St.
Houston, Texas 77054
Hours: Mon-Fri, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phone: 713-652-8937
Yes.
For K-12 students, one of the following must be provided:
For college students, we require the following:
If you provide a current class schedule, you must also provide a tuition receipt.
And if you’re doing an internship, you must also provide a letter with start and end date on official company letterhead.
Based on the above requirements, you’ll be required to provide at least two, and as many as four documents.
Yes. A discounted METRO Q® Fare Card can be used at any time. It provides a 50 percent discount upon boarding any of the following METRO transit services:
To start using the card prior to June 1, 2023, funds will need to be added to it. Those funds will then begin getting deducted each time a fare is paid.
From June 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2023, no fares will be charged and the card balance won’t change.
Starting Sept. 1, 2023, half price fares will begin getting deducted again each time a fare is paid.
Any available funds as of June 1, 2023 will remain on the card for continued use after Aug. 31, 2023.
You can load funds on the card at any time in the following locations:
You can also load funds on the card through the METRO Online RideStore, but only at the time you initially obtain the card.
No. Funds will not be lost because all discounted METRO Q® Fare Cards must be registered before they can be used. This protects the card’s account balance if it gets lost.
If your card is lost or stolen, please call Customer Service at 713-635-4000 as soon as possible to get your card turned off. To replace your card and recover the funds, please stop by any METRO RideStore location. METRO will provide one free replacement card. All future replacements will require a fee of $10.
Below are some tools to make your METRO riding experience easier and more convenient.
Explore METRO transit services near you
Valuable information to help you ride
Compare your cost of driving vs. what it would cost to ride METRO - and see how much money you'd save each month.
An all-in-one toolkit with everything you need to ride METRO bus and rail services, including contactless fare payments.
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