Houston runs on one big, single-fare network. METRO — the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County — operates the buses, the light rail, and the airport connections, and one $1.25 tap covers nearly all of it, transfers included.
The basics
METRORail is the light-rail backbone, with three lines meeting downtown:
- Red Line — the busiest, running north–south from Northline Transit Center through downtown, the Theater District, and the Texas Medical Center, down to Fannin South.
- Green Line — downtown east to Magnolia Park Transit Center, through East Downtown (EaDo).
- Purple Line — downtown south to Palm Center, past TSU and UH.
Around that, METRO runs 80+ local bus routes (color-coded by frequency — more on that below), commuter Park & Ride express buses from suburban lots into downtown, Uptown, and the Medical Center, and on-demand ADA services (curb2curb and METROLift) for first/last-mile and paratransit trips.
How to pay
METRO’s fare validators accept several ways to pay, and you tap or scan the same one every time:
- Tap a contactless bank card or your phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay) right at the validator — no card to buy, no account to set up.
- Get a RideMETRO Fare Card — a physical card for $2, or a free virtual one in the RideMETRO app. This is the way to go if you want the discounted fare or the loyalty rewards.
- Scan a QR ticket — a 3-Hour Pass or Day Pass, bought from a Ticket Vending Machine, the RideMETRO app, or a METRO RideStore.
- Pay cash on the bus — exact change only, and cash doesn’t come with a transfer.
There are no fare gates on METRORail — you tap the platform validator before boarding, on the honor system. Fare inspectors and METRO Police do spot checks, so keep your tap handy.
Fares
| Full fare | Discounted* | |
|---|---|---|
| Local bus & METRORail | $1.25 | $0.60 |
| Day Pass (unlimited local bus, rail & curb2curb until 2am) | $3.00 | $1.50 |
| Park & Ride (zones 1–4) | $2.00–$4.50 | $1.00–$2.25 |
* Students, seniors 65–69, and riders with disabilities, with an approved RideMETRO Discount Fare Card. Kids 5 and under ride free; seniors 70+ ride free.
Whichever way you tap or scan (except cash), you get a free transfer for 3 hours to any other METRO service of equal or lesser fare — so one tap can cover a bus-to-rail-to-bus trip. Load a RideMETRO Fare Card (physical or virtual) and METRO also tracks a 1-for-10 loyalty program: your 11th ride in a rolling cycle is free.
Getting from the airport
Houston has two airports, and the same bus connects both to downtown.
From George Bush Intercontinental (IAH):
- Route 500 Downtown Direct — nonstop to downtown. Board at Terminal E, Level 2 (Doors E-201/E-202/E-203). $4.50, every 30 minutes, 7 days a week. Scheduled timepoints put the ride at roughly 45 minutes to downtown’s Main Street corridor.
- Route 102 Bush IAH — a cheaper local option with more stops, boarding at Terminal C, running to the Downtown Transit Center for $1.25, every 15–30 minutes.
From William P. Hobby (HOU):
- Route 500 Downtown Direct — the same route continues to Hobby. Board at the Hobby Airport Transit Center, just north of baggage claim. $4.50, every 30 minutes; scheduled timepoints put it at roughly 25 minutes to downtown.
- Local routes 40, 50, 73, and 88 also serve Hobby for the standard $1.25 local fare, with more stops along the way.
Apps to download
- RideMETRO — the official app: plan a trip, hold a virtual fare card, track your bus or train live, and check your progress toward a free ride.
- METRO On Demand — for booking curb2curb, Community Connector, or METROLift rides.
- Transit — a solid third-party option for real-time arrivals and turn-by-turn trip directions.
- Google Maps — fine for general trip planning with live METRO data.
When it runs
METRORail runs from before 5am to after midnight, daily:
- Red Line: every 6 minutes on weekdays, every 12 minutes on weekends.
- Green & Purple Lines: every 12 minutes on weekdays, every 18 minutes on weekends.
Local buses are color-coded by frequency:
- Red routes — every 15 minutes or better, at least 15 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Blue routes — every 16–30 minutes, 18+ hours a day, 7 days a week.
Accessibility
METRORail platforms are level with the train floor, with ramp access at both ends. Buses have ramps or lifts and a kneeling feature on request. Stops and stations announce audibly and visually. METROLift is METRO’s ADA paratransit service for preapproved riders who can’t use regular transit, bookable through the METRO On Demand app.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Tap every ride, including transfers. There are no gates — enforcement is by inspection, and a missed tap can mean a citation.
- In places, METRORail runs at street level in mixed traffic, especially downtown. The trains are quiet — take lowered gates, flashing lights, and bells seriously, and never try to beat a train across the tracks.
- Bikes ride free — buses carry up to two on the front rack, and free Wi-Fi is standard on local buses.
Good to know
- Fare enforcement: riding without proof of payment is a fare-evasion citation — a $75 fee, payable directly to METRO within 30 days before it goes to Houston Municipal Court.
- Heat: Houston summers are long, hot, and humid — buses and trains are air-conditioned, but stops and platforms mostly aren’t, so plan for the wait.