Riders will receive one free ride for every 10 paid taps of the card. (Courtesy Justin Welling)
A new way to pay for public transit is currently in its soft launch phase, and is set to usher in a new era for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO).
RideMETRO, the new fare payment system, includes a reusable fare card and a soon-to-launch full-service app. The system launched Dec. 1 and will transition from the old system through January 2026.
“During this transition, all existing payment options remain valid. Riders may continue using their METRO Q® Cards, Mobile Ticketing Flash Passes, and cash,” Director of Communications Anna Carpenter told COURIER HTX. “Customers who already have the new RideMETRO Card, as well as those using credit or debit cards, may tap the new validators now. These are the changes operators will begin to see immediately, and additional features will be rolled out incrementally as the system continues to develop.”
While payment with the card will still be tap to pay, the system will implement faster boarding, more payment options, and quicker rewards.
The benefits of the new system, according to METRO, include:
- Pay with the RideMETRO Card or RideMETRO app, credit/debit card, Apple Pay/Google Pay, or cash (out of these options, riders could only previously pay with cash)
- Manage multiple cards under one account
- Add money instantly to any card in your managed account
- Receive one free ride for every 10 paid taps of the card
Cash will still be accepted at Ticket Vending Machines, participating retailers, METRO RideStores, and for one-way travel on METRO bus service, and ride fares will not be increasing during this transition period. However, back-of-the-bus reloaders will be phased out.
“This upgrade was formally introduced as part of the METRONow plan unveiled in February 2025,” Carpenter said. “One of the core pillars of METRONow is accessibility, and modernizing our fare technology is a key step toward ensuring every rider can easily purchase and pay their fare using the method that works best for them.”
