How to apply for Valley Metro Senior Half-Fare (Age 60+) + Metro McAllen + RideChoice Paratransit in Texas

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 1-800-574-8322, Metro McAllen 956-681-3510, and the Metro McAllen Paratransit (MMP) office 956-681-3535 to book a paratransit trip (Monday to Saturday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sunday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM). In Hidalgo County, Valley Metro runs routes through Alamo, Alton, Donna, Edcouch, Elsa, Edinburg, Hargill, La Blanca, La Joya, Mercedes, Mission, Palmhurst, Palmview, Pharr, San Carlos, San Juan, Sullivan City and Weslaco, with McAllen Central Station downtown as the main transfer hub. Buses normally run Monday to Saturday, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Valley Metro charges $1.00 for riders 60 and older, half the $2.00 adult fare; transfers between buses are $1.00. Call the Valley Metro regional call centre on 1-800-574-8322.

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.

People who qualify for one senior program often qualify for others. See everything you may qualify for — free, no SSN, about five minutes.

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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: 1-800-574-8322

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Valley Metro Senior Half-Fare (Age 60+) + Metro McAllen + RideChoice Paratransit. I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may 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 — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Renewals

senior fare ongoing; paratransit eligibility renewed every 2 years

Official source →Last verified · October 3, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.