Houston METRO offers free rides to adults aged 70 and older who sign up for a senior fare card. It covers five services, making it easier to get around town without paying for each trip.
Which services are included?
The benefit covers local buses, Park & Ride commuter buses, METRORail, METRO curb2curb and Community Connector. There aren’t any daily limits or rush-hour restrictions listed, so you can ride whenever you want. Just a heads-up: this benefit doesn’t cover METROLift or METRO Vanpool.
Who can apply?
Anyone 70 and up! You just need a government photo ID with your birthdate on it, like a driver’s license or state ID. (If you’re 65 to 69, you don’t get the freebie, but you do qualify for discounted fares). The best part is there’s no income test, and you don’t even have to prove you live in Houston. Visitors can get a card too, though they should double-check with METRO about which IDs are accepted.
How to get your card
You can apply online or in-person.
- Online: Head over to the METRO Online RideStore, upload a picture of your ID, and they’ll mail the card right to your door once you’re approved.
- In-person: Drop by a METRO RideStore. A handy spot is the Downtown Transit Center at 1900 Main Street, which is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
METRO officially calls this the “RideMETRO Discount Fare Card.” Also, while the rides are 100% free, METRO normally charges a $2 fee for a physical card, and it’s not completely clear if they waive that for the 70+ crowd. You can call or text 713-635-4000 to check.
How to use it
Just tap your card when you get on a vehicle or walk onto the rail platform. If you prefer using your phone, you can set up a virtual card in the RideMETRO app and scan a QR code instead. Just remember that switching to a virtual card permanently deactivates your physical one, so you won’t be able to use both.
How much could you save?
Regular local trips are $1.25, and Park & Ride can run anywhere from $2 to $4.50. If you take the local bus twice a day, you’re saving around $50 a month. Taking two daily Park & Ride trips? That keeps up to $180 a month in your pocket depending on the route. You can check out METRO’s official fare page to apply and read up on all the details.
You’ll find the full requirements and application options on METRO’s official fare page.
