Benefits · Transportation
How to apply for METRO Senior Discount Fare (65-69 Half / 70+ Free) + METROLift ADA Paratransit
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) — operates fixed-route bus, light rail, and METROLift ADA-paratransit serving Houston and Harris County
Who it's for
METRO (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County) operates the fixed-route bus and light rail system serving Houston and Harris County. METRO's senior fare structure is one of the most generous in the catalog: seniors AGE 65-69 ride for HALF PRICE, and seniors AGE 70 AND OLDER ride FOR FREE on all fixed-route bus and rail service. To activate the senior discount, apply for a RideMETRO Discount Fare Card through the METRO Online RideStore or in person at the METRO RideStore. You'll need to upload or present a government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth (Texas driver's license, Texas ID, Medicare card, or passport). Once approved, the RideMETRO Fare Card is mailed via USPS. METROLift is METRO's ADA-accessible shared-ride paratransit service for persons with disabilities who cannot board, ride, or disembark from a fixed-route METRO bus — even one equipped with a wheelchair lift or ramp. METROLift fares are $1.25 single trip (base) or $2.50 single trip (premium), with a $47.25 monthly pass available. METROLift requires advance ADA-eligibility certification through METRO. Houston's vast geography means METRO + METROLift is the primary mobility lifeline for Harris County seniors who can no longer drive.
METRO's age 70+ FREE fare benefit is the most generous senior transit benefit currently modeled in the catalog — peers in FL (Key West free for City residents) and elsewhere offer reduced fares, not free. The 65-69 half-fare tier is also generous. Both apply to all METRO fixed-route bus and rail service across Houston and Harris County. METROLift paratransit requires a separate ADA eligibility certification — being age 65+ does NOT automatically qualify a rider for METROLift; functional inability to use the fixed-route system is the standard. For seniors who CAN board a fixed-route bus, METRO + free senior fare is meaningfully cheaper than METROLift. status_ceiling=likely_qualifies because the senior fare reduction is a benefit any qualifying senior receives automatically once the fare card is issued — no discretionary review. The METROLift certification process can take several weeks; apply early if paratransit will be needed.
What you'll need
- For senior discount fare card: government-issued photo ID showing date of birth (Texas driver's license, Texas ID, Medicare card, or passport)
- For METROLift ADA paratransit: completed METROLift eligibility application + physician statement or functional assessment documenting inability to use fixed-route service
- Proof of Harris County residency
- For monthly pass purchase: payment method
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 713-635-4000
Renewals
fare card is ongoing; METROLift eligibility is periodically recertified
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.