Local Bus

With more than 80 local bus routes serving communities inside and outside the 610 Loop, you have a variety of options for getting to work, school, shopping and medical appointments. Transfers to other routes are available at many city street intersections. You can also transfer at METRO transit centers which are sheltered waiting areas typically found at the beginning and/or end of a bus route.

Accessible Vehicles

Free Wi-Fi

Customers boarding 82 Westheimer bus in downtown Houston

Local Bus Routes

Start exploring individual routes by selecting one from the list below. Each one contains a number and associated route name, such as “2 Bellaire” or “82 Westheimer”. The route name represents the destination, street name or area served by that route.

Fares

Regular Fare

$1.25

For all Local Bus customers who aren’t eligible for a discounted fare.

Discounted Fare

$0.60

* For students, seniors 65-69, or people with disabilities who aren't METROLift customers.

* Requires discounted fare card

Ways to Pay

There are multiple options for paying the regular or discounted fare when you board a local bus, as shown below.

METRO Q® Fare Card

A contactless fare payment option – this is the form of payment used by most METRO riders. It functions as a debit card for riding METRO. You can continually load and store money on it – and then money will be deducted each time you pay your fare.

How To Pay

Tap your regular or discounted METRO Q® Fare Card on the validator inside the bus when you board (as shown in the photo) and the fare amount will be deducted. 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.

Transfers

After the fare amount is deducted from your card, you’ll receive free transfers between any of these METRO services for up to three hours in any direction:

Local bus
METRORail
METRORapid
METRO curb2curb

For transfers to Park & Ride bus service, you only pay the fare difference for up to three hours in any direction.

5 for 50

Paying your fare with a METRO Q® Fare Card entitles you to METRO’s 5 for 50 offer – you’ll be credited with five free trips for every 50 paid trips.

Each of your five free trips may be used on any of the following services for up to three hours at no charge, regardless of the service(s) you typically use or where you board:

Local bus
Park & Ride bus
METRORail
METRORapid
METRO curb2curb

Immediately after you reach 50 paid trips, your five free trips will be applied automatically to the next five trips you take.

METRO Q Mobile Ticket

This is a contactless fare payment option. Download the METRO Q Ticketing app to your smartphone and sign up for an account on the app. That will allow you to purchase regular fare mobile tickets to board a METRO bus. Discounted fare mobile tickets aren’t available for purchase.

How To Pay

Once you purchase and activate a mobile ticket, it will display animated colors and motion on your phone. Show that to the bus operator as you board, as shown in the photo. After you activate your mobile ticket, it's valid for three hours.

Transfers

After you activate a Local Single Ride or Local Day Pass mobile ticket, you’ll receive free transfers between any of these METRO services in any direction:

Local bus
METRORail
METRORapid
METRO curb2curb

To transfer to Park & Ride service, you'll need to purchase and activate a Park & Ride mobile ticket. It entitles you to free transfers between any METRO service of equal or lesser value.

5 for 50

Paying your fare with a METRO Q Mobile Ticket entitles you to METRO’s 5 for 50 offer – you’ll be credited with five free trips after you’ve activated 50 mobile tickets.

For each of your five free trips, you can choose to activate a Local Single Ride mobile ticket or any Park & Ride mobile ticket for up to three hours at no charge.

METRO Day Pass

A contactless fare payment option – this offers the best value if you ride local services three or more times in a day (at different times of the day). It functions as a debit card for riding METRO. You can continually load and store money on it – and then money will be deducted each time you pay your fare.

The maximum daily amount deducted is $3 from a regular METRO Day Pass or $1.50 from a discounted METRO Day Pass. If you use the pass on a Park & Ride bus, the cost to ride doesn't get applied to those deductions. The pass is only valid on the day of activation; it expires at 2 a.m. the following morning.

How To Pay

Tap your regular or discounted METRO Day Pass on the validator inside the bus when you board (as shown in the photo) and the fare amount will be deducted. 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.

Transfers

After each of the first two times the fare amount is deducted from your card, you’ll be entitled to free transfers between any of these METRO services for up to three hours in any direction:

Local bus
METRORail
METRORapid
METRO curb2curb

After the third time the fare amount is deducted from your card, you’re entitled to unlimited use of those services for the rest of the day.

METRO Money

A contactless fare payment option – this is a popular choice for agencies, hotels and convention groups looking to provide a disposable fare card to clients, customers or guests. The card comes preloaded with amounts ranging from $1.25 to $20. These cards can't be reloaded.

How To Pay

Tap your METRO Money card on the validator inside the bus when you board (as shown in the photo) and the fare amount will be deducted. 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.

Transfers

After the fare amount is deducted from your card, you’ll receive free transfers between any of these METRO services for up to three hours in any direction:

Local bus
METRORail
METRORapid
METRO curb2curb

For transfers to Park & Ride bus service, you only pay the fare difference for up to three hours in any direction.

A dollar bill with a quarter sitting next to it

Cash

You’re welcome to pay with cash and/or coins.

How To Pay

Deposit it into the fare box when you board the bus, as shown in the photo. No change is given.

Transfers

When paying with cash, transfers to other METRO services aren’t included.

Track Your Bus

There are various ways that METRO can provide you with reliable, estimated bus arrival times. These real-time updates allow you to stay informed and avoid delays.

Text message window displaying how to use the next bus texting tool.

Receive the next bus arrival time directly to your phone. Text your bus stop number followed by a space and your route number to 697433. You'll receive a text back with the estimated real-time arrival (RT) and scheduled arrival time (SC) of the next buses at your stop.

Screen displaying how the METRO TRIP app shows real-time and scheduled time of the next buses.

See the next bus arrival times by using the map to select the location where you'll begin your trip. Select your bus route from the routes shown along the left side of the screen and then choose the direction you're traveling in. Estimated real-time arrivals are shown in green and scheduled times are shown in white along the bottom of your screen.

Apple® Maps depicting estimated departure times of a METRO local bus.

See the next bus departure times by entering your destination and selecting the transit icon (usually a bus or train symbol). You’ll see the timing of scheduled departures from your stop and any delays will be shown in red next to the scheduled time.

After entering your destination, select the public transportation icon (usually a bus or train symbol). Google Maps™ will display your route options. Choose the route that suits you best and tap on it to view more details. You will see the scheduled time as well as the estimated real-time arrival of the next bus.

See estimated real-time bus arrival information on digital signs.

At select bus stop locations, you'll see digital signs like the one pictured above, and most transit centers feature scrolling LED digital signs or high-definition LCD monitors. In addition to estimated arrival times, the LCD screens may also display service alerts, detours, stop closures and other METRO announcements.

The Track Your Bus or Train feature on the homepage of the METRO website.

Track Your Bus or Train directly from the homepage of the METRO website. Select your route, destination and stop. Click or tap on Track Now and you'll see the route number and estimated real-time arrival as well as the next scheduled departures.

Reach METRO's automated next bus arrival system by calling Customer Service at 713-635-4000. When prompted, enter your bus stop number followed by your route number, or press the pound sign (#) for stop number lookup. Estimated real-time and scheduled times of the next buses at your stop will be recited.

Rider Tools

Below are some tools to make your METRO riding experience easier and more convenient so you can drive less and do more.

Plan Your Trip

Start From

End At

Travel Preference

TIME

DATE

Plan My Trip

System Map

Explore METRO transit services near you

Interactive Map PDF Map

Questions and Answers

Valuable information to help you ride

Topics

Find Answers

Savings Calculator

Compare your cost of driving vs. what it would cost to ride METRO - and see how much money you'd save each month.

Get Started

RideMETRO App

Plan and manage your trip on METRO Local bus, Park & Ride bus, METRORail or METRORapid using an interactive map.

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Local Bus

Local Bus Routes

Fares

Regular Fare

Discounted Fare

Ways to Pay

Track Your Bus

Rider Tools

Plan Your Trip

System Map

Questions and Answers

Savings Calculator

RideMETRO App

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