# Houston Metro

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas, United States. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, HOV and HOT lanes, and paratransit service (under the name METROLift) in the city as well as most of Harris County. It also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County, and to Conroe in Montgomery County. The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 76,833,400, or about 253,200 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

## History

The Texas State Legislature authorized the creation of local transit authorities in 1973. In 1978, Houston-area voters created Metro and approved a one-cent sales tax to support its operations. Metro opened for business in January 1979, taking over the bus service owned by the City of Houston known as HouTran. HouTran was plagued by outdated equipment, infrequent service and a route structure which failed to account for Houston's rapid population growth.
Metro's service area encompasses 1,285 square miles (3,330 km$^2$) and also serves portions of an eight-county region with its vanpool service; the agency employs about 3,800 people.

### Executive leadership

Tom Jasien is the current president and CEO of the agency, since December 2023.
Previously, Thomas Lambert held the position for a decade, being formally appointed in February 2014, although he had been operating as the agency's interim CEO since the beginning of 2013. Lambert, a Houston native with a political science degree from Southwest Texas State University and master's in public administration from the University of Houston, joined Metro as a security investigator in 1979. He was named agency police chief in 1982, ultimately overseeing close to 100 officers, then moved into higher ranks of management.
The Metro Board has nine members – five are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Houston City Council, two are appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court, and two are appointed by the 14 mayors of Metro's smaller city members.

## Metro Bus

Metro's local bus service usually runs on city streets, typically stopping at every other corner along its entire route. The bus system is the most used in Texas and the Southwest region. Metro also operates express bus routes on the Houston region's freeway high-occupancy vehicle lanes, which stop at park-and-ride lots.
Prior to the construction of Metrorail, Metro consisted of the largest all-bus fleet in the United States, only because Houston was the largest major city devoid of any rail transit since 1990.
Circa 1991 bus services for handicapped people were implemented.
In 2015, the bus system was redesigned, eliminating low-ridership routes in favor of a high-frequency, high-demand bus network. This change was accomplished without any increase in operating costs.

### Service types

* Local: Most Metro buses typically operate on city streets, with the majority of routes serving several of Houston's major employment centers. The routes are grid-like "crosstown" routes that travel from one part of the city to another, typically without entering downtown. Many routes were truncated to METRORail stations to eliminate duplicate service.
* Express: A local limited stop service that serves key destinations but travel nonstop on freeway segments. They were formerly categorized as Limited prior to the 2015 restructuring of bus routes.
* Park and Ride (Commuter): Metro operates express service between major destinations and outlying areas via high-occupancy vehicle lanes on regional freeways. Buses on these routes stop at park-and-ride lots, which also serve as transit centers.
* Bus Rapid Transit: A pilot program introduced on June 1, 2009, to provide faster service with upgraded buses and fewer, more modern stops to busy corridors, beginning with a supplement of Route 2 (Bellaire), 402 Quickline Bellaire BRT. The second route in this system was a replacement of Route 33 (Post Oak), 433 Silver Line Post Oak BRT, which unlike Route 402, utilizes an exclusive busway for a majority of the route. The next planned line was the University Line, which was planned to start construction in 2025 and open in 2029. However, in June 2024, Metro announced that they had abandoned plans for the University Line.

### Routes

Metro's bus routes are numbered based on their service type and arranged in a grid. On August 24, 2015, Metro revamped their entire bus network with new routes and frequent service. Under the new network, all local routes run 7 days a week with the exception of two express routes.
Metro provided the free Greenlink shuttle services in Downtown Houston, but discontinued the service in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metro's express and commuter buses consist of 45-foot (14 m) MCI and New Flyer "Viking" buses, which have reclining seats, small individual lights, as well as small air conditioning vents for each seat. Viking buses went out of service in May 2015. In 2024, the bus system had a ridership of 61,060,800, or about 203,400 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2024.

#### List of routes

* 2–99: Local routes
* 102–162: Express routes
* 202–298: Park and Ride routes
* 309–399: Shuttle and curb2curb routes
* 402, 433: Bus rapid transit (BRT) routes
* Red indicated 15 minute-or-better frequencies
* Blue indicated 15–30 minute frequencies
* Green indicates 30–60 minute frequencies
* Yellow indicates express bus routes
* Gray indicates Park & Ride express routes or shuttles with no defined frequency
* Coral indicates BRT (bus rapid transit) routes
Multiple colors indicate that portions of the route have different frequencies from one another.
| Route # | Route Name | Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | via | Length | Ridership (FY 2024) | Notes |
| 2 | Bellaire | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Juniper Point Mission Bend Transit Center | Bellaire Blvd (Holcombe Blvd) | 14.3 miles (23.0 km) | 2,218,487 | |
| 3 | Langley-Little York | Fairbanks/Northwest Crossing Hollister Street & Little York Road | Northside Village Burnett Transit Center | W Little York Rd | 27.2 miles (43.8 km) | 642,556 | |
| 4 | Beechnut | Greater Eastwood Eastwood Transit Center | Juniper Point Mission Bend Transit Center | Beechnut St, N Braeswood Blvd | 22.3 miles (35.9 km) | 2,361,020 | |
| 5 | Southmore | Midtown Wheeler Transit Center | Allendale Flagstone Terrace and South Richey Street | Southmore Blvd, Griggs Rd, Long Dr | 14.8 miles (23.8 km) | 348,484 | |
| 6 | Jensen/Greens | Downtown Downtown Transit Center | Greater Greenspoint Greenspoint Transit Center | Jensen Dr, Greens Rd | 25.6 miles (41.2 km) | 1,104,580 | |
| 7 | West Airport | Willow Meadows West Loop Transit Center | Greater Fondren Southwest Fondren Meadow Drive & Gessner Road | S Willow Dr, Airport Blvd | 6.3 miles (10.1 km) | 235,680 | |
| 8 | West Bellfort | South Main Fannin South Transit Center | Greater Fondren Southwest West Bellfort Park and Ride | Bellfort Avenue (West) | 10.3 miles (16.6 km) | 955,787 | |
| 9 | Gulfton/Holman | Greater Eastwood Eastwood Transit Center | Sharpstown Bonhomme Road & Clarewood Drive | Holman St, US 59, Gulfton St | 15.5 miles (24.9 km) | 673,522 | |
| 10 | Willowbend | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Greater Fondren Southwest Sandpiper Drive & Willowbend Boulevard | Holcombe Blvd, Stella Link Rd, Willowbend Blvd | 9.1 miles (14.6 km) | 172,518 | |
| 11 | Almeda/Lyons | Central Southwest Hiram Clarke Transit Center | Northshore Dividend Street & Currency Street | Almeda Rd, Lyons Av | 21.6 miles (34.8 km) | 700,056 | |
| 14 | Hiram Clarke | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Central Southwest Hiram Clarke Transit Center | Main St, Hiram Clarke Rd | 9.5 miles (15.3 km) | 501,353 | |
| 20 | Canal/Memorial | Bellaire Chimney Rock Road & Bellaire Boulevard | Magnolia Park Magnolia Park Transit Center | S Rice Av, Memorial Dr (East), Canal St | 18.7 miles (30.1 km) | 739,510 | |
| 23 | Clay/West 43rd | Northline Northline Transit Center | Spring Branch Central Pitner Road & Roma Street | Crosstimbers, West 43rd St, Clay Road | 9.1 miles (14.6 km) | 141,181 | |
| 25 | Richmond | Greater Eastwood Eastwood Transit Center | Westchase Meadowglen Lane & Hayes Road | Wheeler Ave, Richmond Ave | 17.8 miles (28.6 km) | 2,094,211 | |
| 25 | Richmond | Greater Eastwood Eastwood Transit Center | Juniper Point Mission Bend Transit Center | Wheeler Ave, Richmond Ave | 20.9 miles (33.6 km) | 2,094,211 | |
| 26 | Long Point/Cavalcade | Houston Gardens Kashmere Transit Center | Memorial City Memorial City Way & Barryknoll Lane | Cavalcade St (East 20th St), West 18th St, Long Point Rd | 17.4 miles (28.0 km) | 1,147,563 | |
| 27 | Shepherd | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Acres Homes North Shepherd Park and Ride | Greenbriar Dr (SB), Durham Dr (SB), Shepherd Dr | 13 miles (21 km) | 794,633 | |
| 28 | OST – Wayside | South Central Houston Ben Taub Hospital | Greater Fifth Ward 5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center | Old Spanish Trail, Wayside Drive | 13.8 miles (22.2 km) | 818,429 | |
| 29 | Cullen/Hirsch | Houston Gardens Kashmere Transit Center | Crestmont Park MLK Jr. Boulevard & Madden Lane | Hirsch Rd, Cullen Blvd | 17.8 miles (28.6 km) | 1,002,013 | |
| 30 | Clinton/Ella | Acres Homes North Shepherd Park and Ride | Clinton Park Mississippi Street & Clinton Drive | Wheatley St (Ella Blvd), E 11th St, Clinton Dr | 20.8 miles (33.5 km) | 244,958 | |
| 32 | Renwick | Mid West Winsome Lane & Fountain View Drive | Willow Meadows West Loop Transit Center | Renwick Dr | 7.0 miles (11.3 km) | 35,295 (542,246 from predecessor route 32) | |
| 35 | San Felipe | Mid West Winsome Lane & Fountain View Drive | Downtown Pierce Street & Travis Street | W Gray St, San Felipe St | 10.0 miles (16.1 km) | 14,641 (542,246 from predecessor route 32) | |
| 36 | Kempwood | Houston Gardens Kashmere Transit Center | Westbranch Westway Park Boulevard & Clay Road | Kempwood Dr (East 34th St), Crosstimbers St | 19.3 miles (31.1 km) | 1,016,576 | |
| 38 | Manchester-Lawndale | Magnolia Park Magnolia Park Transit Center | Harrisburg/Manchester Manchester Docks | Lawndale St | 6.2 miles (10.0 km) | 40,323 | |
| 39 | Katy Freeway | Spring Branch Central Northwest Transit Center | Memorial City Britoak Lane & Yorkchester Drive | Katy Freeway Service Road | 10.8 miles (17.4 km) | 83,463 | |
| 40 | Telephone/Heights | Acres Homes North Shepherd Park and Ride | Meadowbrook/Allendale Monroe Park & Ride | Yale St, Heights Blvd, Polk St, Telephone Rd | 25.9 miles (41.7 km) | 1,227,422 | Interlined with 41 from Waugh Dr to Eastwood TC |
| 41 | Kirby/Polk | Greater Eastwood Eastwood Transit Center | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Polk St, W Dallas St, Kirby Dr | 13 miles (21 km) | 376,533 | Interlined with 40 from Waugh Dr to Eastwood TC |
| 44 | Acres Homes | Downtown Pierce Street & Main Street | Cypress Crossing Lone Star College-University Park | N Main St, Montgomery Rd, Tomball Pkwy (SH 249) | 23.1 miles (37.2 km) | 765,044 | |
| 45 | Tidwell | Brookhollow West West Little York Park and Ride | East Houston Mesa Transit Center | Tidwell Rd | 19.1 miles (30.7 km) | 1,284,840 | |
| 46 | Gessner | Brookhollow West West Little York Park and Ride | Greater Fondren Southwest Fondren Meadow Drive & Gessner Road | Gessner Rd | 16.3 miles (26.2 km) | 2,379,111 | |
| 47 | Hillcroft | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | Westbury Greencraig Drive & Hillcroft Avenue | Woodway Dr, Voss Rd (Hillcroft Ave) | 12.8 miles (20.6 km) | 1,065,750 | |
| 48 | Market | Downtown Preston Street & Smith Street | Pleasantville Pleasantville Drive & Market Street | Market St | 8.6 miles (13.8 km) | 148,746 | Pleasantville routing alters during AM or PM |
| 49 | Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | Ridgemont Court Road & South Post Oak Road | Chimney Rock Rd, Bering Dr, S Post Oak Rd | 17.3 miles (27.8 km) | 811,374 | |
| 50 | Broadway | Greater Eastwood Eastwood Transit Center | Hobby Transit Center | Broadway St, Polk St | 9.6 miles (15.4 km) | 682,044 | |
| 51 | Hardy – Kelley | Downtown Downtown Transit Center | Kashmere Gardens Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital | Hardy/Elysian Sts, Kelley St | 7.8 miles (12.6 km) | 220,175 | Interlined with 52 from Downtown TC to Kashmere TC |
| 52 | Hardy – Ley | Downtown Downtown Transit Center | East Houston Mesa Transit Center | Hardy/Elysian Sts, Ley Rd, Hirsch Rd | 19.3 miles (31.1 km) | 604,215 | Interlined with 51 from Downtown TC to Kashmere TC |
| 54 | Scott | Downtown Downtown Transit Center | Central Southwest Hiram Clarke Transit Center | Scott St, Almeda Genoa Rd | 14.2 miles (22.9 km) | 1,792,078 | |
| 56 | Airline/Montrose | Northline Northline Transit Center | Greenspoint Greenspoint Transit Center | Airline Drive | 11.4 miles (18.3 km) | 1,736,427 |
| 56 | Airline/Montrose | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Greenspoint Greenspoint Transit Center | Airline Dr, Studewood St (Montrose Bl) | 21.6 miles (34.8 km) | 1,736,427 | |
| 58 | Hammerly | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | Westbranch Westway Park Boulevard & Capital Park Drive | Hammerly Blvd | 10.8 miles (17.4 km) | 148,751 | |
| 59 | Aldine Mail | Acres Homes North Shepherd Park and Ride | Eastex Aldine Mail Route & US Route 59 | Aldine Mail Route Road | 11.7 miles (18.8 km) | 121,206 | |
| 60 | Cambridge | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Astrodome Area El Camino Street & Holly Hall Street | Cambridge St, Holly Hall St | 4.4 miles (7.1 km) | 446,836 | |
| 60 | Cambridge | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | South Union Southeast Transit Center | Cambridge St, Holly Hall St, Tierwester St | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) | 446,836 | |
| 63 | Fondren | Mid West Old Farm Road & Westheimer Road | Fondren Gardens Fondren Transit Center | Fondren Rd | 9.6 miles (15.4 km) | 1,379,715 | |
| 64 | Lincoln City | Acres Homes Acres Homes Transit Center | Garden City Park McCrarey Drive & Montgomery Road | Wheatley St, De Priest St, Dewalt St | 8.8 miles (14.2 km) | 25,564 | |
| 65 | Bissonnet | Midtown Wheeler Transit Center | Crescent Park Village Beckford Drive & Newbrook Layover | Bissonnet St | 15.5 miles (24.9 km) | 1,795,816 | |
| 66 | Quitman | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | Greater Fifth Ward 5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center | White Oak Dr (Quitman St) | 12.6 miles (20.3 km) | 124,007 | Was 66 Studewood before the 2015 route change |
| 67 | Dairy Ashford | Alief Dairy View Lane & Bissonnet Street | Addicks Park Ten Addicks Park & Ride | Dairy Ashford Rd (Park Row Drive) | 9.9 miles (15.9 km) | 160,477 | |
| 68 | Braeswood | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Alief Elmsworth Drive & South Course Drive (other times) | Braeswood Blvd | 11.8 miles (19.0 km) | 582,813 | |
| 68 | Braeswood | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | Alief El Franco Lee Clinic (weekday daytime) | Braeswood Blvd | 13.8 miles (22.2 km) | 582,813 | Was 68 Brays Bayou but renamed in the 2015 New Bus Network |
| 70 | Memorial | Spring Branch Central Northwest Transit Center | Spring Branch West Business Center Drive & Westview Circle Drive | Memorial Dr (Central) | 11.7 miles (18.8 km) | 68,828 | |
| 72 | Westview | Spring Branch Central Northwest Transit Center | Spring Branch West Business Center Drive & Westview Circle Drive | Westview Dr | 10.1 miles (16.3 km) | 112,925 | |
| 73 | Bellfort | South Main Fannin South Transit Center | Hobby Transit Center | Bellfort Avenue (East) | 9.4 miles (15.1 km) | 1,466,502 | |
| 75 | Eldridge | Addicks Park Ten Addicks Park & Ride | Eldridge/West Oaks West Oaks Mall | Eldridge Pkwy | 13.9 miles (22.4 km) | 194,128 | |
| 76 | Evergreen | Magnolia Park Magnolia Park Transit Center | Allendale Howard Drive & Sweetbriar Street | Evergreen Dr, Winkler Dr | 10.7 miles (17.2 km) | 373,367 | |
| 77 | Homestead | Greater Fifth Ward 5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center | Homestead Hartwick Road & Homestead Road | Homestead Rd | 10.9 miles (17.5 km) | 138,652 | |
| 78 | Wayside | Greater Fifth Ward 5th Ward/Denver Harbor Transit Center | East Houston Brock Park Drive & Tidwell Road | Wayside Dr | 9.7 miles (15.6 km) | 149,316 | |
| 79 | Irvington | Northside Village Burnett Transit Center | Eastex-Jensen Aldine Westfield Road & Pine Tree Drive | Irvington Blvd | 10.7 miles (17.2 km) | 129,143 | Was 79 W. Little York before the merge with 3 Langley |
| 80 | MLK/Lockwood | Houston Gardens Kashmere Transit Center | Crestmont Park MLK Jr. Boulevard & Park Village Drive | Lockwood Dr, MLK Jr. Blvd | 16.2 miles (26.1 km) | 1,297,289 | |
| 80 | MLK/Lockwood | Eastex-Jensen Tidwell Transit Center | Crestmont Park MLK Jr. Boulevard & Park Village Drive | Lockwood Dr, MLK Jr. Blvd | 21.2 miles (34.1 km) | 1,297,289 | Was 80 Dowling/Lyons before the 2015 change |
| 82 | Westheimer | Downtown Congress Street & Smith Street | Eldridge/West Oaks West Oaks Mall | Westheimer Rd | 18.2 miles (29.3 km) | 4,061,221 | |
| 83 | Lee Road-JFK | Eastex-Jensen Tidwell Transit Center | IAH/Airport Area World Houston Parkway & International Plaza | US 59 Service Rd, Lee Rd (SB) | 12.4 miles (20.0 km) | 94,293 | |
| 84 | Buffalo Speedway | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | South Main Lakes at 610 Drive & West Bellfort Street | I-610 Service Rd, Buffalo Spdwy, University Blvd | 12.9 miles (20.8 km) | 496,819 | |
| 85 | Antoine/Washington | Downtown Pierce Street & Main Street | Antoine West West Road & Antoine Drive | Washington Ave, Antoine Dr | 17.1 miles (27.5 km) | 1,879,200 | |
| 85 | Antoine/Washington | Downtown Pierce Street & Main Street | Greenspoint Greenspoint Transit Center | Washington Ave, Antoine Dr, Gears Rd | 25.1 miles (40.4 km) | 1,879,200 | |
| 86 | FM 1960/Imperial Valley | Greenspoint Greenspoint Transit Center | Willowbrook Tomball Parkway & Willow Chase Boulevard | Imperial Valley Dr, FM 1960 (West) | 16.5 miles (26.6 km) | 823,358 | |
| 87 | Sunnyside | Old Braeswood Texas Medical Center Transit Center | South Main Fannin South Transit Center | Holcombe Blvd, Yellowstone Blvd, Crestmont St, Reed Rd | 14.7 miles (23.7 km) | 331,628 | Was 87 Yellowstone Circulator prior to the 2015 route change |
| 88 | Sagemont | Greater Hobby Area Neuhaus St & Telephone Rd | Southbelt/Ellington San Jacinto College South | Airport Blvd, Almeda Genoa Rd, Beamer Rd | 14.5 miles (23.3 km) | 351,923 | |
| 89 | Dacoma | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | Lazy Brook Sherwood Lane & North Becca Lane | Dacoma St, Magnum Rd, North Post Oak Rd | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | 50,411 | |
| 96 | Veterans Memorial | Northline Northline Transit Center | Steubner Forest Veterans Memorial Drive & Farm To Market Road 1960 | Veterans Memorial Dr | 15.5 miles (24.9 km) | 397,905 | |
| 97 | Settegast | Houston Gardens Kashmere Transit Center | East Houston Mesa Transit Center | I-610 Service Rd, Wallisville Rd, Oates Rd, E Houston Rd | 14.9 miles (24.0 km) | 144,803 | |
| 98 | Briargate | Central Southwest Hiram Clarke Transit Center | Fondren Gardens Fondren Transit Center | Fuqua St, Fondren Rd | 7.4 miles (11.9 km) | 87,790 | |
| 99 | Ella – FM 1960 | Acres Homes North Shepherd Park & Ride | Woodcreek Lone Star College-North Harris | Ella Blvd, FM 1960 (East) | 21.1 miles (34.0 km) | 705,881 | |
| 102 | Bush IAH Express | Downtown Pierce Street & Travis Street | Bush IAH Airport Terminal C | North Fwy, Beltway 8, JFK Blvd | 26.0 miles (41.8 km) | 1,123,232 | |
| 108 | Veterans Memorial Express | Downtown Pierce Street & Travis Street | Acres Homes North Shepherd Park and Ride | North Fwy | 10.1 miles (16.3 km) | 101,535 | |
| 137 | Northshore Express | Downtown Gray Street & Brazos Street | Greater Fifth Ward 5th Ward/Denver Harbor TC | East Fwy | 4.9 miles (7.9 km) | 880,740 | Alternate weekend trips |
| 137 | Northshore Express | Downtown Gray Street & Brazos Street | Northshore Maxey Road Park & Ride | East Fwy, Uvalde Rd, Woodforest Bl | 17.1 miles (27.5 km) | 880,740 | |
| 151 | Westpark Express | Downtown Smith Street & Preston Street | Juniper Point Mission Bend Transit Center | US 59, Westpark Dr, Harwin Dr | 18.5 miles (29.8 km) | 183,666 | |
| 152 | Harwin South Express | Midtown Wheeler Transit Center | Alief Elmsworth Drive & South Course Drive | US 59, Harwin Dr, Corporate Dr | 15.5 miles (24.9 km) | 509,814 | Interlined with 153 from Wheeler TC to Ranchester Dr |
| 153 | Harwin North Express | Midtown Wheeler Transit Center | Eldridge/West Oaks Valedictorian Drive & Briar Forest Drive | US 59, Harwin Dr, Briar Forest Dr, Enclave Pkwy | 20.7 miles (33.3 km) | 871,039 | Interlined with 152 from Wheeler TC to Ranchester Dr |
| 161 | Wilcrest Express | Downtown Downtown Transit Center | Greater Fondren Southwest West Bellfort Park & Ride | Katy Fwy, Wilcrest Dr, Walnut Bend Ln | 26.1 miles (42.0 km) | 977,200 | Interlined with 162 from Downtown TC to Wilcrest Drive |
| 162 | Memorial Express | Downtown Downtown Transit Center | Addicks Park Ten Addicks Park & Ride | Katy Fwy, Memorial Dr (West) | 22.5 miles (36.2 km) | 210,857 | Interlined with 161 from Downtown TC to Wilcrest Drive |
| 202 | Kuykendahl P&R | Greenspoint Kuykendahl Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | North Freeway HOV | | 175,349 | |
| 204 | Spring P&R | Spring Spring Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | North Freeway HOV | | 168,825 | |
| 209 | Spring/Kuykendahl P&R | Spring Spring Park and Ride Greenspoint Kuykendahl Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | North Freeway HOV | | 20,608 | Midday service for 202 and 204 |
| 212 | Seton Lake P&R | Seton Lake Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | SH 249, North Freeway HOV | | 66,529 | |
| 216/214 | W L York / Northwest Station P&R | Jersey Village Northwest Station Brookhollow West West Little York Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana Streets | Northwest Freeway HOV, Katy Freeway | | 200,604 | |
| 217 | Cypress P&R | Cypress Cypress Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana Streets | Northwest Freeway HOV, Katy Freeway | | 331,025 | |
| 219 | W.L York/NW Station/Cypress | Cypress Cypress Park and Ride Jersey Village Northwest Station Brookhollow West West Little York Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana Streets | Northwest Freeway HOV, Katy Freeway | | 28,963 | Midday service for 216 and 217 |
| 221 | Kingsland P&R | Kingsland Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana | Katy Freeway HOV | | 166,392 | |
| 222 | Grand Parkway P&R | Grand Parkway Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana | Katy Freeway HOV | | 537,946 | |
| 228 | Addicks P&R | Addicks Addicks Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana | Katy Freeway HOV | | 164,674 | |
| 229 | Addicks/Kingsland/Grand Parkway P&R | Grand Parkway Park and Ride Kingsland Park and Ride Addicks Addicks Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Smith and Louisiana | Katy Freeway HOV | | 33,962 | Midday service for 221, 222 and 228 |
| 236 | Maxey P&R | Baytown Baytown Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Pierce | East Freeway | | 48,692 | |
| 237 | Baytown P&R | Baytown Baytown Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Pierce | East Freeway | | 3,113 | |
| 244/248 | Monroe / El Dorado P&R | El Dorado Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along St. Joseph, Pierce, Travis, Milam, Franklin and Congress | Gulf Freeway HOV | | 126,750 | |
| 247/246 | Fuqua / Bay Area P&R | Bay Area Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along St. Joseph, Pierce, Travis, Milam, Franklin and Congress | Bay Area Boulevard, Gulf Freeway HOV | | 182,726 | |
| 249 | Bay Area / El Dorado / Fuqua / Monroe P&R | Bay Area Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along St. Joseph, Pierce, Travis, Milam, Franklin and Congress | Bay Area Boulevard, Gulf Freeway HOV | | 31,199 | Midday service for 244/248 and 247/246 |
| 255 | Kingwood P&R | Kingwood Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | Eastex Freeway HOV | | | |
| 256 | Eastex P&R | Eastex Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | Eastex Freeway HOV | | | |
| 257 | Townsen P&R | Townsen Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | Eastex Freeway HOV | | 133,506 | |
| 259 | Eastex/Townsen/Kingwood P&R | Kingwood Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Congress, Franklin, Milam, Travis, St. Joseph and Jefferson | Eastex Freeway HOV | | 18,378 | Midway service for 255, 256 and 257 |
| 265 | West Bellfort | West Bellfort Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Louisiana, Smith, Franklin and Congress | Southwest Freeway HOV | | 65,467 | |
| 269 | West Bellfort | West Bellfort Park and Ride | Downtown Stops along Louisiana, Smith, Franklin and Congress | Southwest Freeway HOV | | 205,757 | Midday service for 265 |
| 270 | Missouri City P&R | Missouri City Missouri City Park and Ride | Old Braeswood TMC Transit Center | Fort Bend Tollway Frontage Road, Fondren, S. Main, Pressler | | 99,608 | |
| 291 | Conroe P&R | Conroe Conroe Park and Ride | VA Hospital | North Freeway HOV, Downtown, Main Street, Pressler, Bertner, OST | | 22,446 | |
| 292 | Southwest Freeway / TMC P&R | West Bellfort Park and Ride | Old Braeswood TMC Transit Center | Southwest Freeway HOV, Main Street | | 71,382 | |
| 297 | Gulf Freeway / TMC P&R | South Point Park and Ride | East @ Cambridge | Gulf Freeway HOV, South Freeway, OST | | 162,407 | |
| 298 | Katy Freeway / TMC P&R | Kingsland Park and Ride | Old Braeswood TMC Transit Center | Katy Freeway HOV, Studemont | | 315,700 | |
| 309 | Gulfton Circulator | Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center | Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center | Glenmont, Hillcroft, Bellaire, S. Rice | 8.8 miles (14.2 km) | 140,708 | Runs in a loop |
| 310 | Gulfton Circulator | Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center | Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center | Glenmont, Hillcroft, Bellaire, S. Rice | 8.8 miles (14.2 km) | 133,409 | Runs in a loop |
| 314 | Hiram Clarke curb2curb | | | | | 65,903 | |
| 329 | Southeast/Sunnyside curb2curb | | | | | | |
| 344 | Acres Homes curb2curb | | | | | 87,122 | |
| 360 | Peerless Shuttle | South Union Southeast Transit Center | South Park Jutland Road & Bellfort Street | | 6 miles (9.7 km) | 118,827 | |
| 363 | Missouri City curb2curb | | | | | 123,807 | |
| 377 | Kashmere/Maxey Road curb2curb | | | | | 13,044 | Kashmere Late night zone discontinued in 2025 and replaced by local bus service |
| 399 | Kuykendahl Shuttle | Greenspoint Greenspoint Transit Center | Greenspoint Kuykendahl Park & Ride | Ella Blvd, Kuykendahl Rd | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) | 45,756 | |
| 402 | Quickline Bellaire BRT | Old Braeswood TMC Transit Center | Sharpstown Clarewood Drive & Ranchester Drive | Bellaire Blvd | 9 miles (14 km) | 145,322 | No weekend service |
| 433 | Silver Line Post Oak BRT | Spring Branch East Northwest Transit Center | Gulfton Westpark/Lower Uptown Transit Center | Post Oak Blvd | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) | 308,168 | Originally 33 Post Oak |

### Discontinued

| Route Name | Reason for discontinuation | Route Color |
| 1 Hospital | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Red |
| 3 West Gray | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 5 Kashmere | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue |
| 7 Tanglewood | | Green |
| 8 South Main | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue |
| 9 North Main | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 11 Nance | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 12 Allen House | | |
| 13 Plaza del Oro Circulator | | |
| 13 Westridge | Shown on the Reimaging Side By Side map; absorbed into route 84 in the New Bus Network release | Blue |
| 15 Fulton | | Green |
| 16 Memorial | | |
| 17 Gulfton | | |
| 18 Kirby | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 19 Wilcrest | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 21 Northshore Limited | | |
| 22 Almeda | | |
| 24 Kempwood | | |
| 24 Northline | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue/Green Segment |
| 26 Outer Loop | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue |
| 27 Inner Loop | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue |
| 28 Southmore | | |
| 31 Memorial Limited | | |
| 32 Harwin Limited | | |
| 32 Renwick / San Felipe | Split into 32 Renwick and 35 San Felipe in 2024 | Blue |
| 33 Post Oak | Replaced by Silver Line (route 433) | Red |
| 34 Montrose | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 35 Fairview | Originally 35 Leeland, later 35 Fairview/Leeland; discontinued in 2004 | Green |
| 36 Lawndale | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue/Green Segment |
| 37 El Sol | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 39 Long Point | | |
| 39 Parker Circulator | | |
| 40 Pecore | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | |
| 41 Garden Villas Express | | |
| 41 Gulf Meadows Circulator | | |
| 42 Holman | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | |
| 43 South Belt Limited | | |
| 43 Pinemont Plaza | | |
| 43 Kirkwood | Shown on the Reimaging Side By Side map, but never existed (it was deferred so it may exist) | Green |
| 48 Navigation | Was 48 Navigation/West Dallas until 2011; eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 50 Harrisburg | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Red/Blue Segment |
| 50 Heights | Section renumbered as a portion of route 40 in the New Bus Network | Blue/Red |
| 51 Buffalo Speedway | | |
| 53 Briar Forest | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue |
| 54 Aldine/Hollyvale Circulator | | |
| 55 Greenspoint/Kingwood Limited | Ran from May 30, 2004 to October 30, 2004 | |
| 55 E Tidwell | Shown on the Reimaging Side By Side map but never existed; combined with 45 Tidwell | Blue |
| 57 JFK Limited | | |
| 59 Southwest Freeway P&R | | |
| 60 Hardy | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 60 South MacGregor | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 63 San Felipe Limited | Fondren Road section split off to 163 Fondren Limited (now current 63 Fondren) in the 1990s; remainder discontinued in 1997 | |
| 64 Gulfton Limited | Merged into 17 Gulfton | |
| 66 Irvington | Merged into route 78; now covered by 79 Irvington | |
| 66 Yale | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 70 University | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | |
| 71 Cottage Grove | Discontinued in 2024 due to low ridership; replaced with zTrip on-demand taxi service | Green |
| 74 Carver Road Circulator | | |
| 75 Taft | | |
| 75 Energy Corridor | Replaced by 75 Eldridge in 2011 | Red |
| 77 Liberty | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue/Green |
| 78 Alabama | Section eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 81 Westheimer-Sharpstown | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Blue/Red Segment |
| 84 Fountain View | Became a branch of 82 Westheimer | |
| 84 T.C. Jester Limited | | |
| 88 Broadway Limited | | |
| 88 Hobby Airport | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 89 Yale | Merged into route 64, now route 66 | |
| 89 South Park Circulator | | Green |
| 91 North Shepherd / Texas Medical Center | Renumbered to 291 | |
| 92 Westwood / Texas Medical Center | Renumbered to 292 | |
| 93 Greens Road | Renumbered to 102 in the 1990s due to shuttle expansions | |
| 93 Northwest/Greenway Plaza Shuttle | Discontinued in 2004 | |
| 94 | | |
| 95 Uptown Post Oak | Renumbered to 295 | |
| 96 Uptown St. James | | |
| 98 Texas Special Blue | | |
| 99 Texas Special Red | | |
| 101 Airport Express | | |
| 107 FM 1960 | | |
| 112 FM 149 | | |
| 112 Bush IAH Downtown Direct | | |
| 119 Wilcrest Commuter | Renumbered from route 19 in the 1990s; renumbered back to route 19 in 1997 | |
| 131 Memorial Limited | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 132 Harwin Limited | Eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | Green |
| 143 South Belt Express | | |
| 160 Memorial City Express | Discontinued in 2025 and absorbed into 162 Memorial Express | Green |
| 163 Fondren Limited | Replaced part of Route 63 San Felipe/Fondren Limited; replaced by current 63 Fondren in 2015 due to new route system | Blue/Green |
| 164 Hillcroft | | |
| 201 North Shepherd | | |
| 203 North Shepherd/Seton Lake | Split into 201 North Shepherd and 212 Seton Lake | |
| 205 Kingwood | | |
| 206 Eastex | | |
| 210 West Belt | Discontinued in 2004 | |
| 214 Northwest Station | Merged into route 216 | |
| 215 West Little York Commuter | | |
| 227 Katy Freeway P&R | Merged into route 298 | |
| 245 Edgebrook P&R | | |
| 246 Bay Area | Merged into route 247 | |
| 248 El Dorado | Merged into route 244 | |
| 256/255 Kingwood/Eastex | Split into routes 255 and 256 in 2025 | |
| 261 West Loop P&R | | |
| 262 Westwood | Merged into route 265 | |
| 263 Alief | Merged into route 265 | |
| 271 Missouri City - SH 6 P&R | Discontinued in 2025 | |
| 273 Gessner P&R | Merged into route 274 | |
| 274 Westchase/Gessner P&R | Originally 274 Westchase P&R; eliminated in 2015 due to new route system | |
| 283 Kuykendahl | Discontinued in 2020 | |
| 284 Kingwood/Townsen-Greenway Plaza/Uptown | Discontinued in 2004 | |
| 285 Kingsland/Addicks-Uptown/Greenway Plaza | Discontinued in 2004, replaced by 298 | |
| 286 Little York/Pinemont/Uptown P&R | Discontinued due to low ridership | |
| 289 San Jacinto P&R | | |
| 295 Uptown Post Oak Addicks/Galleria Commuter | | |
| 311 Bayou Event Shuttle | Discontinued due to low ridership | |
| 312 Grocers Shuttle | Absorbed into 5 Southmore in 2020 | |
| 313 Allen Parkway Special | | |
| 320 TMC Red Shuttle | No longer operated by METRO | |
| 321 TMC White Shuttle | No longer operated by METRO | |
| 322 TMC Blue Shuttle | No longer operated by METRO | |
| 323 TMC North Circulator | Merged with 325 to form the 326 in 2004 | |
| 324 TMC South Circulator | Merged with 324 to form the 326 in 2004 | |
| 325 Smith Lands Circulator | | |
| 326 TMC Campus Trolley | Replaced 323 and 324 | |
| 352 Swingle Shuttle | | |
| 364 MCTX Flex Route | | |
| 402 P & HC Shuttle | | |
| 403 S & K Shuttle | | |
| 404 Northwest Shuttle | | |
| 404 Beechnut Flyer | Eliminated in 2001 due to low ridership | |
| 412 Greenlink Circulator Green Route | Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 413 Greenlink Circulator Orange Route | Cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 418 Harris County Jury Shuttle | Discontinued in 2023 due to low ridership | |
| 420 Post Oak Special Gold | | |
| 421 Post Oak Special Green | | |
| 426/427 TMC Swiftline | | |
| 464 Bell Station Trolley | Discontinued in 2004 | |
| 465 Main Street Square Trolley | | |
| 466 St. Joseph/Preston Trolley | | |
| 500 Airport Direct | Cancelled in 2011 due to low ridership | |

### Transit centers

Bold = Terminates at the Transit Center Italics = A branch terminates at the transit center / / = METRORail connections
| Transit Center | Parking | Routes |
| Acres Homes | None | 3 Langley-Little York 30 Clinton/Ella 44 Acres Homes 64 Lincoln City |
| Bellaire | None | 2 Bellaire 20 Canal/Memorial 49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak 65 Bissonnet 309/310 Gulfton Circulators 402 Bellaire Quickline |
| Burnett | None | 3 Langley-Little York 51 Hardy-Kelley 52 Hardy-Ley 79 Irvington |
| Downtown | None | 6 Jensen/Greens 51 Hardy-Kelley 52 Hardy-Ley 54 Scott 161 Wilcrest Express 162 Memorial Express |
| Eastwood | 65 spaces | 4 Beechnut 9 Gulfton/Holman 25 Richmond 40 Telephone/Heights 41 Kirby/Polk 50 Broadway 80 MLK/Lockwood 244 Monroe/El Dorado P&R 249 Bay Area / El Dorado / Fuqua / Monroe P&R |
| Fannin South | 1437 spaces | 8 West Bellfort 11 Almeda/Lyons 73 Bellfort 87 Sunnyside |
| Fifth Ward/Denver Harbor | 24 spaces | 11 Almeda/Lyons 28 OST-Wayside 48 Market 66 Quitman 77 Homestead 78 Wayside 80 MLK/Lockwood 137 Northshore Express |
| Fondren | 779 spaces | 63 Fondren 98 Briargate |
| Greenspoint | None | 6 Jensen/Greens 56 Airline/Montrose 85 Antoine/Washington 86 FM 1960/Imperial Valley 99 Ella-FM 1960 102 Bush IAH Express 399 Kuykendahl Shuttle |
| Hempstead | None | 26 Long Point/Cavalcade 58 Hammerly 85 Antoine/Washington 89 Dacoma Shuttle |
| Hiram Clarke | 83 spaces | 11 Almeda/Lyons 14 Hiram Clarke 54 Scott 98 Briargate 314 Hiram Clarke curb2curb |
| Hobby | None | 40 Telephone/Heights 50 Broadway 73 Bellfort 88 Sagemont |
| Kashmere | 17 spaces | 3 Langley-Little York 26 Long Point/Cavalcade 29 Cullen/Hirsch 36 Kempwood 51 Hardy-Kelley 52 Hardy-Ley 80 MLK/Lockwood 97 Settegast 377 Kashmere Late Night curb2curb |
| Magnolia Park | 78 spaces | 20 Canal/Memorial 28 OST-Wayside 38 Manchester-Lawndale 50 Broadway 76 Evergreen |
| Mesa | 100 spaces | 45 Tidwell 52 Hardy-Ley 78 Wayside 97 Settegast |
| Mission Bend | 862 spaces | 2 Bellaire 4 Beechnut 25 Richmond 75 Eldridge 151 Westpark Express |
| Northline | None | 23 Clay-West 43rd 36 Kempwood 45 Tidwell 56 Airline Montrose 79 Irvington 96 Veterans Memorial |
| Northwest | 195 spaces | 39 Katy Freeway 47 Hillcroft 49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak 58 Hammerly 66 Quitman 70 Memorial 72 Westview 84 Buffalo Speedway 85 Antoine/Washington 89 Dacoma Shuttle 161 Wilcrest Express 162 Memorial Express 216 W L York / Northwest Station P&R 217 Cypress P&R 219 W.L York/NW Station/Cypress 298 Katy Freeway / TMC P&R 433 Silver Line |
| Palm Center | None | 5 Southmore 87 Sunnyside |
| Southeast | 21 spaces | 5 Southmore 28 OST-Wayside 29 Cullen/Hirsch 54 Scott 60 Cambridge 360 Peerless Shuttle |
| Tidwell | 809 spaces | 6 Jensen/Greens 80 MLK/Lockwood 83 Lee Road-JFK |
| Texas Medical Center | None | 2 Bellaire 4 Beechnut 10 Willowbend 14 Hiram Clarke 27 Shepherd 28 OST–Wayside 41 Kirby/Polk 56 Airline/Montrose 60 Cambridge 68 Braeswood 84 Buffalo Speedway 87 Sunnyside 270 Missouri City - Fondren P&R 291/292/297/298 Texas Medical Center Corridor 291 Conroe Park & Ride 292 Southwest Freeway / TMC P&R 297 South Point/Monroe Park & Ride 298 Addicks/Northwest Transit Center –Texas Medical Center Park & Ride 402 Quickline Bellaire |
| West Loop | 772 spaces | 7 West Airport 32 Renwick 49 Chimney Rock/S. Post Oak 68 Braeswood |
| Westpark/Lower Uptown | 242 spaces (175 covered) | 20 Canal/Memorial 292 Southwest Freeway / TMC P&R 309/310 Gulfton Circulators 433 Silver Line |
| Wheeler | None | 5 Southmore 25 Richmond 65 Bissonnet 152 Harwin South Express 153 Harwin North Express |

### Park and Ride lots

Metro operates 28 different park and ride locations.
| Park & Ride | Parking | Routes |
| Addicks | 2438 spaces | 67 Dairy Ashford 75 Eldridge 162 Memorial Express 228 Addicks P&R 229 Grand Parkway/Kingsland/Addicks 298 Katy Freeway/TMC P&R |
| Bay Area | 1155 spaces | 247 Fuqua/Bay Area P&R 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R |
| Baytown | 16 spaces | 237 Baytown P&R |
| Conroe | 294 spaces (covered) | 291 Conroe P&R |
| Cypress | 1500 spaces (covered) | 217 Cypress P&R 219 Cypress/NW Station/W L York P&R |
| Eastex | 877 spaces | 83 Lee Road-JFK 256 Eastex P&R 259 Kingwood/Townsen/Eastex P&R |
| El Dorado | 1227 spaces | 244 Monroe/El Dorado P&R 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R |
| Fuqua | 938 spaces | 88 Sagemont 247 Fuqua/Bay Area P&R 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R |
| Gessner | 415 spaces | 46 Gessner 151 Westpark Express |
| Grand Parkway | 1714 spaces (covered) | 222 Grand Parkway P&R 229 Grand Parkway/Kingsland/Addicks |
| Hillcroft | 922 spaces | 151 Westpark Express 152 Harwin South Express 153 Harwin North Express 309/310 Gulfton Circulator |
| Kingsland | 2377 spaces | 221 Kingsland P&R 229 Grand Parkway/Kingsland/Addicks 298 Katy Freeway/TMC P&R |
| Kingwood | 1034 spaces | 255 Kingwood P&R 259 Kingwood/Townsen/Eastex P&R |
| Kuykendahl | 2171 spaces | 202 Kuykendahl P&R 209 Kuykendahl/Spring P&R 399 Kuykendahl Shuttle |
| Maxey Road | 1129 spaces | 137 Northshore Express 236 Maxey P&R |
| Missouri City | 1750 spaces (covered) | 270 Missouri City P&R |
| Monroe | 904 spaces | 40 Telephone/Heights 244 Monroe/El Dorado P&R 249 Bay Area/El Dorado/Fuqua/Monroe P&R 297 Gulf Freeway/TMC P&R |
| North Shepherd | 603 spaces | 3 Langley/Little York 27 Shepherd 30 Clinton/Ella 40 Telephone/Heights 59 Aldine Mail 64 Lincoln City 96 Veterans Memorial 99 Ella-FM 1960 108 Veterans Memorial Express |
| Northwest Station | 2361 spaces | 216 W L York/NW Station P&R 219 Cypress/NW Station/W L York P&R |
| Seton Lake | 1286 spaces | 44 Acres Homes 212 Seton Lake P&R |
| South Point | 496 spaces | 297 Gulf Freeway/TMC P&R |
| Spring | 1263 spaces | 86 FM 1960/Imperial Valley 99 Ella-FM 1960 204 Spring P&R 209 Kuykendahl/Spring P&R |
| Townsen | 996 spaces | 257 Townsen P&R 259 Kingwood/Townsen/Eastex P&R |
| West Bellfort | 2024 spaces | 8 West Bellfort 161 Wilcrest Express 265 West Bellfort P&R 269 West Bellfort P&R 292 Southwest Freeway/TMC P&R |
| West Little York | 1102 spaces | 45 Tidwell 46 Gessner 216 W L York/NW Station P&R 219 Cypress/NW Station/W L York P&R |
| Westchase | 1468 spaces | 151 Westpark Express |
| Westwood | 826 spaces | 292 Southwest Freeway/TMC P&R |

### Advertising policy

Metro has had a policy since its founding in which it refuses to place advertisements on buses, claiming that such a move would create an unsightly appearance on the buses. Metro had originally attempted to generate extra revenue by only advertising in its bus shelters, but a city ordinance blocked the decision. After a failed attempt to get permission to partially use advertisements on buses, Metro has since decided to continue enforcing its policy.
Due to the lack of funding for METRORail expansion, the policy has been proposed to be expanded to light rail vehicles in order to generate additional revenue. Metro began advertising the Houston Zoo on the side of three light rail vehicles in 2010. In late September 2010, due to the decreased budget, Metro began to seriously consider advertising on their buses.

### Rates

In the fall of 2006, Metro revealed plans to rework its fare system. The new system involves pre-paid fare cards (contactless smart cards), called Q Cards, that can be recharged on local buses and Metro TVMs. 3-hour passes are electronically added to the card each time it is used. Frequent users get "Rider Rewards" that offer five free rides for every 50 paid trips.
Senior citizens 65–69 will continue to receive a discounted rate as will disabled patrons. Senior citizens over 70 may ride for free. Children under 5 also ride for free when accompanied by an adult (limit 3). This was intended to keep the base fare low and phase out the previous fare system consisting of transfers (was reinstated from July 2015 to March 2016), as well as day (reinstated on October 7, 2013), weekly, monthly and annual passes, which occurred in early 2008. On November 2, 2008, local fares increased to $1.25 from $1. Currently another fare increase is being mulled as a means to pay for constructing the expansion of the light rail.
| Service Type | Regular | Discounted |
| Local | $1.25 | $0.60 |
| Zone 1 | $2 | $1 |
| Zone 2 | $3.25 | $1.60 |
| Zone 3 | $3.75 | $1.85 |
| Zone 4 | $4.50 | $2.25 |
| Zone 5 | $8 | $4 |
| 24-Hour Pass (began October 7, 2013) | $3 | $1.50 |

## HOV system

Metro has been known for pioneering the use of express buses in HOV lanes. This was part of the reversible HOV lane concept that began in 1979 with the completion of the North Freeway (I-45) Contraflow Lane. This concept used the inside freeway lane of the "opposite" direction separated by traffic pylons and is closed to all vehicles except buses and vanpools. Although a head-on collision involving a car and a bus occurred in 1980, the concept became permanent, but with the HOV lanes separated from the rest of traffic with Jersey barriers.
The HOV lanes run between Downtown Houston (inbound A.M. and outbound P.M.) and the suburbs and are found on portions of the Katy Freeway, Gulf Freeway, North Freeway, Southwest Freeway, Eastex Freeway and Northwest Freeway.
Since Metro Express buses use them during rush hour, most routes lead to the Park and Ride lots and use "secret" HOV lane exits (often elevated T-intersections) that lead to the lots (also used by vehicles) without having to exit the freeway to street intersections. The HOV system will soon get an overhaul in the event of major freeway construction to take place in Houston and may have HOV lanes in both directions with the concept of HOT (Toll) lanes introduced.
In 2011, Metro began conversion of the HOV lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. Commuters with only one person in a vehicle will be able to pay a toll to use the lanes when the conversion is complete.

## METROLift

Metro Lift provides transportation needs for people with a disability, who cannot board, or ride from a regular Metro bus. The Metro Lift vehicles are shared-ride, meaning that they take multiple customers and groups. Metro tells its customers to use standard Metro bus services whenever possible. Metro Lift uses special vehicles that are distinct from fixed-route Metro buses. The Authority's METROLift paratransit service will have provided 1.9 million trips to 16,178 eligible riders in FY2017, using both METRO-owned lift-equipped vans and contractor-owned and operated accessible minivans.

## METRORail

Metro's light rail service is known as METRORail.
Metro offers a trip planner on its web site that provides information for public transit in the region it serves. It is multi-modal, combining schedule information for buses and rail. Riders enter their intended origin and destination, along with optional time, date, the trip planner displays, itineraries showing the stops, departure and arrival times, times to get from the origin to the destination and other information.
Today, the average daily weekday ridership is 59,753 and 18.3 million annually. On November 9, 2007, Metro surpassed its 40 million boardings mark, something it did not expect to happen until 2020. Notable records in ridership have occurred on the following dates:
* February 1, 2004: 64,005 passengers rode Metro during Super Bowl XXXVIII
* February 23, 2004: 54,193 passenger boardings were recorded, the highest weekday at the time
* February 27, 2007: 56,388 passengers were recorded the day of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
* February 4, 2017: 109,417 passengers were recorded during festivities preceding Super Bowl LI.
* November 3, 2017: 125,000 passengers were recorded the day of the parade for the Houston Astros, champions of the 2017 World Series.

### METRORail lines

Metro currently operates three light rail lines: the Red Line, Purple Line and Green Line. The Red Line, the Authority's first light rail line, began operation on January 1, 2004. Now extended to 12.8 miles, the line begins at the Northline Transit Center, serving HCC Northeast and Northline Commons mall, and then continues south through Houston's Central Business District, Midtown, the Museum District, Rice University, the Texas Medical Center and the NRG Park Complex to the Fannin South Transit Center It is the second major light rail service in Texas following the DART system. The arrival of Metro light rail comes approximately sixty years after the previous streetcar system was shut down, which left Houston as the largest city in the United States without a rail system since 1990, when Los Angeles' Blue Line opened.
Metro opened two additional light rail lines in 2015, the Purple (Southeast) and Green (East End) Lines. Destinations served by these new lines include Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, PNC Stadium, and the Theater District. These new lines added another 9.9 miles of light rail. In total, Metro operates 22.7 miles of light rail service. Metro will reach approximately 18.6 million light rail boardings in FY17.
Two other lines were to be completed by 2012, but funding issues dropped the number to the northern extension of the Red Line and two of the original four new lines. The extension of the Red Line was opened on December 21, 2013 and the East End/Green Line opened on May 23, 2015. Due to federal investigations and the lack of funds, the plans may degenerate further. Three of the five lines were previously going to be bus-rapid transit, but due to high ridership possibilities, the decision was made to make them all light rail.

## Expansion
### METRO Solutions

METRO Solutions was a regional transit plan approved by voters in November 2003 by a 52–48 vote. The plan proposed:
* 64.8 miles (104 km) of Light Rail Transit
* 8 miles (13 km) of Commuter Rail Transit (CRT)
* 9 New Transit Centers
* 9 New Park & Rides Lots
* 250 miles of two-way HOV lanes
In June 2005, METRO announced a revised plan for expansion of the METRORail system. The plan included one new light rail corridor and three bus rapid transit corridors. The bus rapid transit lines would have later been converted into light rail when ridership warranted the conversion.
On October 18, 2007, the plan was revised to allow for the possibility of more federal funding. METRO decided to have all the lines consist of light rail from the start after some public backlash to the agency turning back from its original plans of light rail corridors.
By 2017, only 15 miles of light rail were completed with no commuter rail lines established. 8 new transit centers, 7 new park & ride lots, and only one new two-way HOV corridor were completed as well.

### METRONext

The public with a 68% vote approved the METRONext plan in November 2019. The plan calls for:
* 110 miles of Regional Express Network, including two-way HOV lanes
* 21 new or improved Park & Ride lots and Transit Centers
* 16 miles of light rail expansion
* 75 miles of a bus rapid transit network METRORapid
* 290 miles of BOOST and Signature bus service
The referendum authorized the agency to issue up to $3.5 billion in bonds to pay for the projects while the remaining $4 billion will come from federal grants and local funds.

## Metro Police

Metro operates its own police department. With over 185 Texas peace officers and 88 non-sworn, civilian employees, the department's main goal is to ensure safety and security on the transit system. The department was established in 1982 and is accredited with the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA), one of only five public transit police departments in North America to be so.
State law grants Metro Police jurisdiction in the counties in which Metro is located, provides services, or is supported by a general sales and use tax. As peace officers, state law also grants Metro Police the power to arrest without warrant for any felony, breach of the peace, disorderly conduct or intoxication offense that is committed in their presence or view while in Texas. They may also make an arrest pursuant to a warrant anywhere in Texas.

## Headquarters

The Metro headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston. The $41 million 14 story glass and steel building has over 400,000 square feet (37,000 m$^2$) of space. The facility includes the Downtown Transit Center, a Metro Ride store, a Houston Police Department storefront and toilets for transiting passengers. The building was designed by Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville. As of August 2010, two floors of the building are not occupied and are not used in any way.
The building was scheduled to open in early 2004, coinciding with the beginning of the METRORail. The groundbreaking was held in 2002. Patti Muck, a spokesperson for METRO, said that the agency would save $273 million, assuming that the agency occupied the building for a 30-year span instead of renting for the same length of time. The Federal Transit Administration, a part of the federal government of the United States, paid 80% of the construction costs, while Metro paid the other 20%.
The “Houston in Harmony” mural l in honor of Mayor Lee P Brown was commissioned by the Honey Brown Hope Foundation and its founder, Tammie Lang Campbell, in 1999. It was moved March 23, 2005, to the Lee P. Brown Metropolitan Transit Authority Administration Building, where it is on permanent display.
Previously the Metro headquarters were in the Louisiana Place (now the Total Plaza), also in Downtown Houston. The agency occupied 10 floors in the building and did not receive any federal funds to cover the $3.8 million annual rent. The Metro Board Room was located on the 16th floor. Total Petrochemicals USA, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, moved into the space that was previously occupied by METRO; the agency scheduled its move into the Brown building to occur in January 2005. Metro's lease of 193,000 square feet (17,900 m$^2$) of space expired in April 2005.

## Ridership and demographics

A Regional Fixed Route Transit Rider survey sponsored by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in partnership with METRO, was completed in 2017. Over 22,000 riders were surveyed—the most expansive ever conducted on a regional basis—and included eight regional fixed-route transit agencies which operate in H-GAC's eight-county region. The survey found that 58 percent of riders use transit to get to work, 20 percent use it for shopping or personal business, and about 10 percent of riders use a bus or train to get to school. 88 percent of riders reported that they rode transit at least three days per week with almost 50 percent of riders riding at least five days per week. The survey's findings concluded that 88 percent of all the trips were directly contributing to the region's economy.

## Member cities

Metro provides transportation services to fifteen member cities, as well as some unincorporated portions of Harris County. Metro's service area pays a 1¢ sales tax to fund the agency's operations.
In addition to the city of Houston, Metro serves fourteen cities in the Greater Houston area, collectively termed the "Multi-Cities":
* Bellaire
* Bunker Hill Village
* El Lago
* Hedwig Village
* Hilshire Village
* Humble
* Hunters Creek Village
* Katy
* Missouri City
* Piney Point Village
* Southside Place
* Spring Valley Village
* Taylor Lake Village
* West University Place
Metro also operates a park-and-ride shuttle between Houston and Conroe. However, Conroe is not a formal member; instead, the shuttle is funded on a yearly basis through an interlocal agreement.