Scheduling Trips

METROLift Vehicle with driver assisting passenger

How Do I Schedule A METROLift Trip?

Using our Automated Calling system (MACS), trips are scheduled one day in advance by calling 713-225-6716 and pressing 1, then simply following the prompts, or use MACS-WEB (www.ridemetro.org). To use MACS and MACS-WEB you will need your client ID and Password. MACS/MACS-WEB are available 7 days a week from 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Scheduling assistance is available through the dispatch office on weekends and holidays. Or call the METROLift reservation office at 713-225-6716, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for next day trips, or Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for trips on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Travel Time

METROLift, ADA Paratransit Service is a shared-ride program. Our concern is to get you to your appointments on time. Total travel time includes the time it takes other passengers to board, ride and alight the vehicle. Paratransit travel time should be comparable to trips with the same origin and destination on the fixed-route bus system including transfers and wait times. This comparison exists except when circumstances are beyond our control, such as in times of inclement weater, traffic congestion, construction, etc.

Note: You must have METROLift fare tickets or a monthly/annual pass to ride. Cash is not accepted. Riders without the proper fare will not be transported. When scheduling your trip, you can eliminate confusion and unnecessary follow-up calls by having pencil and paper near the telephone so that you can write down the estimated pick-up time the operator gives you.

Write down your ESTIMATED scheduled times. Remember, that these times can change plus or minus 20 minutes. You should verify your trip times using MACS-WEB at www.ridemetro.org or MACS at 713-225-0410 after 7 p.m. the night before or on the day of service. The automated services MACS and MACS-WEB are available 24 hours, seven days a week. You will need your client ID and password.

If you are traveling with an attendant, companion, or service animal, don’t forget to include space for them. An “attendant” is someone who assists you while you are traveling and rides for free. A “companion” is someone who is accompanying you on your trip and must pay for one ticket. Multiple companions (more than one) are scheduled on a space-available basis with a reservationist. Each companion must pay a fare regardless of age.

On certain holidays, METROLift closes the Reservation and Customer Service Offices and has fewer vehicles scheduled for service.

The holidays observed by METRO are:

• New Year’s Day
• Labor Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Memorial Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving
• Independence Day
• Christmas Day

Subscription Service

Subscription-trip service may be available on a limited basis to those METROLift patrons traveling to and from the same location, at the same time, for 3 or more days per week on a long-term basis. Once instituted, the subscription users no longer need to call the reservation line. At present, 50% of our daily riders use our subscription trip service, which is the maximum allowed under the transportation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Therefore, availability of new subscriptions is very limited. Subscription riders must cancel in advance any trips they will not be using. Failure to cancel will jeopardize their subscription service. Changes to existing subscription rides can be requested through the METROLift Customer Service Office. Changes are not guaranteed and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Note: Subscription service is not available on holidays. Patrons who have subscription trips and still need to travel on a holiday must schedule a reservation using MACS/MACS-WEB or by calling Reservations at 713-225-6716 (TDD 713-652-8969) on the last business day prior to the holiday.