GlobeSherpa, Houston METRO launch mobile ticketing app
The new METRO Q Mobile Ticketing app allows Houston residents and visitors to purchase mobile tickets for METRO bus and METRORail and use them directly from their smartphone.
GlobeSherpa and Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) announced the launch of the “METRO Q Mobile Ticketing” mobile application. The new METRO Q Mobile Ticketing app allows Houston residents and visitors to purchase mobile tickets for METRO bus and METRORail and use them directly from their smartphone.
The app is available for download in the Google Play and Apple iTunes stores.
The new METRO Q Mobile Ticketing app allows passengers to:
Purchase, store, use, and validate full-fare tickets and METRO Day Passes for local bus, METRORail and special event tickets right from their smartphone, removing the need to keep track of paper tickets or stand in line at a ticket kiosk.
Use PayPal to purchase tickets and passes.
Use multiple tickets for multiple riders from a single smartphone.
Create an account, store information for future purchases and manage account information on the go.
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Plan their commute with the built in Trip Planner tool.
Houston METRO fares are available for purchase in the app, including full-fare tickets and METRO Day Passes. Riders purchase fares and pay with either a stored debit/credit card or their PayPal account. Tickets are then sent to users’ phones in the form of a secure, animated electronic ticket that can be visually validated by vehicle operators or scanned by a fare inspector’s handheld device.
“METRO's new Q Mobile Ticketing App is part of our ongoing effort to make the commuting experience more convenient and today we take a significant leap forward for our passengers,” said METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert. “We are excited to get METRO Q Mobile Ticketing into the hands of our passengers, adding a new easy-to-use option to buy and use fares.”
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.