If you are new to Houston or just visiting temporarily, you may not yet know about the public transportation options that the city has to offer. In many large cities, public transportation can be rather expensive and not necessarily expansive. In Houston, the cost will surprise you and you can get pretty much anywhere you need to go in the city.
The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority or METRO has an extensive system which runs throughout the city. You can hop on the bus at the airport to ride into Houston. You will find information regarding schedules and routes on the Metro website.
In the city, you have a choice of riding the bus or using the METRORail. Buses will take you to various destinations from each corner of the city. Tourists often prefer the METRORail. This new rail system will take you to the center of the Houston’s museum district and it has stops along Main Street where you can partake in the social scene visiting the many restaurants, clubs and bars along the route.
METRORail
The METRORail system is 7.5 miles long with 16 stations along the route. Each station has a covered waiting area, Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) and benches. The METRORail operates no less than 20 hours per day each day of the week. It traverses the Downtown area, Midtown, the Museum District, the Texas Medical Center, Reliant Park and the South Fannin Park and Ride lot. Unless you have a METRO Q Fare Card, you will need to purchase a Single-Ride Ticket from a TVM which you will find at the station. Tickets are $1.25, and children under five years of age ride free. Occasionally METRO police board trains for random fare inspections. Make sure you have either a Rail Ticket purchased from one of the TVMs, or a METRO Q Fare Card that has been tapped on the METRO Q reader located on the TVM. If you are asked to show proof of purchase and do not have it, you may be subject to a $500 fine. Trains and their destinations are announced before their arrival. You will find the train destination sign at the bottom of the windshield and on the side of the car. The farthest northbound stop is UH-Downtown. The southernmost stop is Fannin South.
METRO Bus Service
For the most part, local bus service runs on city streets with stops along the routes. For people who are commuting long-distance, METRO has Park & Ride lots located in certain areas. The fare for this transportation depends on the distance the bus travels and will fall into one of four zones. Park & Ride lots are found in all parts of the greater Houston area.
If you plan on using the METRO often, you will want to consider purchasing a METRO Q Fare Card. (The “Q” stands for quick.)This can be done at one of the many retail locations in Houston, at some local neighborhood convenience stores and online. You also have the option of going to the RideStore in the Central Business District in Downtown Houston. You will find it in METRO’s administration building which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.on weekdays. It is located at 1900 Main Street at St. Joseph’s Parkway. Your METRO Q Fare Card is rechargeable, provides you with free transfers and for every fifty paid trips you take, you'll get five trips for free. Students, seniors, Medicare cardholders and disabled persons can get discounted fares. Rates depend on what zone you are in, ,and local trips are $1.25. If you choose to pay cash for your Single-Ride Ticket, be sure to have exact change.
METRO will help you plan your trip. You have the option of calling 713-635-4000 or 715-635-6993 (TTY) and speaking to a customer care specialist who will help you map out your route and give you schedule information, or you can go online and use METRO’s Trip Planner.
METRO STAR Vanpool
METRO also offers van pooling for people in Harris County and the seven surrounding counties. Vanpooling with METRO STAR means that you will incur less expense for your personal vehicle’s fuel and maintenance, possibly reduce your auto insurance rates, save time using HOV lanes and reduce stress by knowing you have a reliable source of transportation to get to your job. Some employers also offer extra commuter benefits. Also, you can take pride in the fact that your participation in the vanpool helps the environment by helping to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
With no worries about finding and paying for parking, getting stressed out sitting in traffic and dealing with poor drivers and road rage, choosing to relax and let METRO doing the driving for you can really make your day run more smoothly.
Resources:
http://www.ridemetro.org/AboutUs/RideGuide.aspx
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/houston-city-guide1.htm
