You can obtain a RideMETRO Fare Card for $2 and load money on it at any of the following:

• METRO RideStore locations
• METRO Online RideStore
• Participating retailers
• Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs)

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.

Yes, you'll need to: 

1. Download the RideMETRO app
2. Create an account by tapping the "Fares" tab at the bottom of the app
3. Set up a virtual RideMETRO Fare Card and add at least $3 
4. Select the QR code icon that will appear in the upper right-hand corner
5. Scan the QR code six inches under the fare validator

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:

• Physical RideMETRO Fare Card
• Virtual RideMETRO Fare Card (in the RideMETRO app)
• Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)*
• Apple Pay or Google Pay*
• 3-Hour Pass ticket  
• Day Pass ticket (not valid for transfers to Park & Ride)

For transfers to a service with a higher cost, you only pay the fare difference for up to three hours.

*When transferring, make sure to tap or scan the same payment method you used at the start of your trip. For example, if you tapped a physical debit card to begin your trip, you must use that same physical card when transferring within three hours. A physical credit or debit card is not the same as a virtual version of the same card stored in Apple or Google Wallet – they're treated as two different payment methods.

Local bus and METRO curb2curb:

A route selector is accessible directly on the website home page, linking you directly to a page for the route of your choice.

At the top of each individual route page, you’ll find:

• Frequency of service on weekdays and weekends
• Stop-by-stop schedule
• Link to view PDF schedule which you can then download and/or print

METRORail:

Frequency of service, a stop-by-stop schedule, a PDF schedule and a linear route map for each METRORail line are found on the METRORail page.

On the METRO website, there’s a route map on:

• Each individual bus route page
• METRORail page
• Each individual METRO curb2curb route page

You can also use the website's Interactive System Map (best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer). In the map, you can check a box next to any METRO bus route or rail line and the map will draw a line showing where it runs.

If you’d prefer a physical map, we include a map image in the printed brochure for each individual bus route or rail line. Brochures are available for free at all METRO RideStore locations:

• Downtown Transit Center - 1900 Main St.
• Eastwood Transit Center - 4400 Gulf Freeway
• Fannin South Park & Ride - 1604 West Bellfort St.
• Fifth Ward / Denver Harbor Transit Center - 1500 Lockwood Drive
• Kashmere Transit Center - 5910 Hirsch Road
• Magnolia Park Transit Center - 6948 Harrisburg Blvd.
• Main Street Square - 1001 Travis St.
• Mission Bend Transit Center - 13855 Alief Clodine Road
• Northline Transit Center - 7705 Fulton St.
• Northwest Transit Center - 7373 Old Katy Road
• Southeast Transit Center - 6000 Scottcrest Drive
• Texas Medical Center Transit Center - 6934 Fannin St.
• Wheeler Station Transit Center - 4590 Main St.

Trip planning tools are available on:

• Various pages of the website, including in the Rider Tools section below
• RideMETRO app for your smartphone
• Google or Apple maps

METRO local buses make stops at the following locations

• Along city streets, at intersections where you see a METRO bus stop sign and/or bus shelter
• At select Park & Ride lots around the region
• At more than 20 transit centers around the region

All METRO buses have large, bright destination signs on the front of the bus above the windshield and along the passenger’s side, near the front door. These digital displays include the route number and destination.

We encourage you to do your part to keep yourself and those around you safe throughout your entire trip on a METRO bus. Learn more about rider safety.

METRORail trains make stops at rail station platforms along city streets in and around downtown Houston. You can also board a METRORail train at the following transit centers:

• Burnett (Red Line)
• Downtown (Red Line)
• Fannin South (Red Line)
• Magnolia Park (Green Line)
• Northline (Red Line)
• Palm Center (Purple Line)
• Texas Medical Center (Red Line)

All METRORail trains have large, bright destination signs on the front of the train above the windshield and along the side of the train as it pulls into the station.

Red Line trains would say one of the following:

• Northline TC / HCC
  
• Fannin South

Green Line trains would say one of the following:

• Magnolia Park
• Theater District

Purple Line trains would say one of the following:

• Palm Center TC
• Theater District

We encourage you to be safe, be seen around trains and stay alert throughout your entire trip on METRORail. Learn more about rider safety.

Estimated arrival times can be found on:

• METRO website home page (“Track Bus or Train” tab)
• RideMETRO app for your smartphone
• Google or Apple maps
  
• Digital signs installed at select METRO bus stop locations and transit centers
• Automated phone line by dialing 713-635-4000

If you know your stop number (it's posted on the bus stop sign at every bus stop location), you can text that stop number to 697433. We'll text you back the estimated arrival time of the next bus for all routes that stop at your location.

To help make the journey pleasant and safe for everybody, METRO has developed a Code of Conduct for riders.

For example, smoking is prohibited in covered or enclosed facilities, including transit centers, bus stop shelters and platforms. And consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on METRO property.

Please review the full METRO Code of Conduct.

The easiest way to pay depends on how frequently you ride, the services you use and other factors. To make it easy for everyone, METRO accepts the following payment options:

• Physical RideMETRO Fare Card
• Virtual RideMETRO Fare Card (in the RideMETRO app)
• Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
• Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Day Pass ticket
• 3-Hour Pass ticket
• Cash (bus only)
  

When using bus or rail services we recommend the following:

• Plan your route ahead of time
• Download the RideMETRO app to view your route, track your bus or train, see schedules and more
• Be aware of the last bus and train times and allow yourself enough time to get to your station/stop