Photo by: Oscar Herrera
Navigating the public transit system can be overwhelming, but there are several resources available to make the process easier. If this is your first time hopping on a train or a bus, these tips should help you feel like a pro.
Getting a METRO fare card
As a UH student, you get discounted METRO Fare Cards that you can acquire by heading over to the Parking and Transportation Office or signing up online at metroridestore.org.
You will need a government-issued photo ID and one of the following: your current class schedule and your tuition receipt, a letter from the college verifying you’re a student or a completed Discount Metro Q Fare Card application signed and stamped by a school registrar.
Your new card includes access to all METRO routes including local bus, METRORail and Park & Ride services. The new discounted fee is .60 cents for all services except Park & Ride and offers free transfers for 3 hours when used in the same direction of travel.
You can reload your card at any METRO RideStores or online.
Metro Rail
The Metro Rail is one of the more popular methods of transportation on campus considering the purple line has several stops at UH including Elgin/Third Ward, TSU/UH Athletics District and UH South/University Oaks.
The number one tip for riding the Metro Rail is to ensure you are going in the right direction! Check your map before your trip, and pay attention to the signs at the station and what direction the bus is going.
When entering downtown, some stations might only have one METRO rail bus heading in one direction so you might have to walk a few blocks to head to your appropriate station. Your map will be your best friend in these situations.
The purple line runs every 12 minutes Monday-Friday and every 18 minutes Saturday-Sunday with the first trip starting before 5 a.m. For more in-depth information about all the stops and the green and red lines, head over to ridemetro.org.
Bus
With over 80 local bus routes, there is a more extensive range of locations you can go to. While you can use your regular maps app on your phone to figure out your route, Transit is a great alternative. The Transit app gives you real-time updates on where your bus is on the map and lets you know how full the bus is.
This is a game-changer as you can feel more at peace knowing where your bus is and how long it will take to get there.
Each bus has a dedicated number or “route name” that lets you know where it is heading or the community it serves. The METRO app or website can give you a more comprehensive look at all the available routes and buses.
As stated before, the public transit system can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. With enough preparation and practice, learning to ride the METRORail or the local bus system will become second nature.
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