Overview
METRO is the Houston metropolitan area’s provider of public transportation service. Until 2004, METRO was entirely a bus operation. However, on January 1, 2004, METRO opened the first segment of a planned 70+-mile light rail network to be constructed over the next twenty years. Dubbed the "Red Line", the initial section of METRORail serves the Main Street corridor, linking downtown to Midtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park, the Texas Medical Center, and finally Reliant Park. METRORail has quickly become the easiest (and arguably the most popular) way to navigate the corridor for both Houston residents and visitors alike. Many of the destinations in this journal are located near METRORail. In addition to light rail service, METRO operates an extensive bus system with a fleet of over 1,500 vehicles covering 130 routes.
How to Ride METRORail
Ticketing and Fares: METRORail Boarding platforms are strategically located near major attractions, and the system is very easy to use. METRORail uses a proof-of-payment system, so do not expect to board the train through turnstiles requiring you to deposit tokens or scan a fare card as you may have experienced in other cities. Instead, tickets are sold at electronic vending machines on each boarding platform. The ticket machines accept cash, coins, and debit cards. Adult one-way tickets are $1 each and are also valid for local bus transfers (see the section below on riding METRO’s buses) for up to three hours after issue. A much better value than the METRORail one-way ticket is the $2 Day Pass, which allows for unlimited light rail and local bus rides in any direction for 24 hours after the pass is issued. After buying a ticket, be sure to keep it in a safe place. METRO police officers do occasionally board trains and check passengers for proof of payment. If you are unable to provide a valid METRORail ticket, METRO pass, or METRO bus transfer, you may be ticketed for theft of services.
Schedule: METRORail service currently begins at 4:24 a.m. on weekdays and 5:27 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Service ends at 12:47 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 2:15 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:45 a.m. on Sunday. Please note that the extended service until 2:15 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays is currently a limited-time trial service for the summer of 2004. Depending on ridership, this service may be retained or it may be reduced to the original schedule of Friday and Saturday evening service ending around 1:15 a.m. Be sure to check METRO’s website for a current schedule before using late-night weekend METRORail service.
METRORail frequencies are as follows:
- Weekdays, 4:24 a.m-7:30 p.m.: Every six minutes
- Weekdays, 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.: Every twelve minutes
- Weekdays, after 10:00 p.m. until end of service: Every eighteen minutes
- Weekends, 5:27 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Every fifteen minutes
- Weekends, 9:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.: Every twelve minutes
- Weekends, after 10:00 p.m. until end of service: Every eighteen minutes
Boarding Platforms: METRORail boarding platforms in downtown, Midtown, Hermann Park, and the Texas Medical Center are all located in the center of the street. In the Museum District and at Reliant Park, platforms are located on one side of the street. At all platforms traffic signals with pedestrian crossing signals are used to assist riders in safely crossing the street to the rail platform. Be sure to observe these signals at all times when walking near the rail line! METRO police will ticket jaywalkers near the rail line without question due to the safety issues created by the at-grade running trains. The trains can be very quiet when approaching, but are equipped with horns, bells, and whistles to alert cars and pedestrians of the train’s presence. All METRORail platforms are equipped with pay phones (with a free link to METRO’s information center), electronic signs announcing approaching trains, security cameras, seating, and maps with nearby attractions. At most platforms, northbound and southbound trains do not share the same platform. Be sure to know the direction you are going and pay attention to the overhead signs to be sure you are waiting at the right platform.
Riding the Light Rail Trains: After you have boarded a METRORail train, listen for the automatic announcement system to announce your stop. Maps are provided throughout all rail cars above the doors. Lighted information signs at the end of each car and in the middle display the next station. An automated announcement system will announce each station in both English and Spanish before you arrive at the station, and again after the train stops at the boarding platform. All METRORail cars are brand new, air conditioned, and very modern, and provide a very fast and comfortable ride.
How to Ride METRO Buses
Fares: METRO local buses cost $1 for a one-way adult fare, or $2 for a Day Pass, good for unlimited local bus and METRORail rides for 24 hours. Transfers between buses and METRORail are free with a valid transfer pass, METRORail ticket, or Day Pass. When boarding a METRO bus, insert the appropriate fare (exact change only) into the electronic fare box. If transferring from METRORail or another bus, or if using a Day Pass, insert the rail ticket, Day Pass, or bus transfer pass into the fare box’s card reader.
Bus Schedules and Route Maps: Do not attempt to ride the METRO bus system without these! Some routes have very simple routes, others tend to zigzag around some. While some routes may have frequencies of every five or six minutes, others may run only once or twice an hour. The good news is that there are only a few bus routes that are of major value to tourists, and the METRO website has maps and schedules for every route in the system easily available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for download. For all destinations in this journal that you will need a bus to reach, I have tried to provide as comprehensive directions as possible, including bus route numbers and where to get on and off.
Finding Your Stop: This is where you have to pay attention. Some METRO bus operators will call out major cross streets as you approach them, but many do not. In my experience commuting to work on METRO, many of the drivers who do call out stops do not speak very clearly or use the public address system, so understanding what the driver calls out (if he/she calls out anything) may be difficult, especially if you are not familiar with the Houston street grid. However, the majority of bus operators I have found to be very friendly and helpful, and if you let the driver know when you board what your destination is, chances are he or she will make a special effort to make sure that you know when to get off. It also helps to ride with a map of the bus route you are on (available from the METRO website) and a map of the city. Ride near the front of the bus on the right side where you can see upcoming intersections and street signs to assist you in navigating to your destination. I have included only a few destinations in this journal that require METRO bus service, and when appropriate, have tried to be as detailed as possible in giving directions.
METRO Information