Benefits · Transportation
How to apply for Valley Metro Senior Half-Fare (Age 60+) + Metro McAllen + RideChoice Paratransit
Valley Metro — regional public transit serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy) operated by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC); Metro McAllen — the City of McAllen's local transit; Metro McAllen Paratransit (MMP) — McAllen-area ADA-paratransit; RideChoice — Valley Metro's regional ADA-paratransit and senior 65+ RideChoice program
Who it's for
Public transportation in Hidalgo County operates through three layered systems: (1) VALLEY METRO — the regional Lower Rio Grande Valley transit operated by the LRGVDC, connecting Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties; (2) METRO MCALLEN — the City of McAllen's local fixed-route bus system; and (3) METRO MCALLEN PARATRANSIT and VALLEY METRO RIDECHOICE — ADA-paratransit and senior-targeted paratransit programs. SENIOR FARES: Valley Metro charges $1.00 for elderly riders age 60 AND OLDER (vs $2.00 standard adult fare) — the SENIOR FARE THRESHOLD IS AGE 60, the YOUNGER of the senior-fare thresholds in TX (Bexar VIA uses 62, Harris METRO / Dallas DART / Tarrant Trinity Metro use 65). PARATRANSIT: Metro McAllen Paratransit eligibility is renewable every 2 years; eligibility is FUNCTIONAL-ABILITY-BASED per ADA standards, and being age 65+ does NOT automatically qualify. Valley Metro's RideChoice program is available to ADA-paratransit-certified people with disabilities AND seniors age 65+ in participating communities. Contact: Valley Metro 956-682-7242, Metro McAllen 956-681-3500, Metro McAllen Paratransit (MMP) office 956-681-3535.
Valley Metro's AGE 60 senior fare threshold is the YOUNGEST age-based senior transit fare modeled in the TX catalog (Bexar VIA uses 62, all other modeled TX metros use 65). The threshold matches Texas's federal Older Americans Act minimum age — Title III nutrition and senior services use age 60 as the eligibility floor. status_ceiling=likely_qualifies because the senior fare reduction is automatic on age verification — no income test or discretionary review. The THREE-LAYERED transit system (Valley Metro regional + Metro McAllen local + paratransit) means seniors need to understand which service is best for their trip — regional trips (Hidalgo-to-Cameron) use Valley Metro, McAllen-only trips use Metro McAllen, and paratransit requires separate certification. RideChoice's age 65+ threshold differs from the regular Valley Metro age 60 threshold — RideChoice is more restrictive.
What you'll need
- For Valley Metro senior fare (age 60+): government-issued ID with date of birth (Texas driver's license, Texas ID, Medicare card)
- For Metro McAllen Paratransit eligibility: completed paratransit application + physician statement or functional assessment documenting inability to use fixed-route service
- For Valley Metro RideChoice (senior path): proof of age 65+ AND residency in a participating community
- Proof of Hidalgo County residency
- For paratransit: advance reservation
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 956-682-7242
Renewals
senior fare ongoing; paratransit eligibility renewed every 2 years
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.