METRO adds service for World Cup crowds in Harris County

METRO has kicked in extra buses, longer rail hours and tighter headways across Harris County to handle the World Cup surge headed for Houston Stadium and the East Downtown fan zone. The temporary changes run through Saturday, July 11, giving everyday riders more options around downtown, NRG Park and the airport corridor as Houston hosts seven matches.

The biggest day-to-day change is on the rail system. METRO said the Green and Purple lines will run every 12 minutes to EaDo / Stadium Station, the stop serving the Fan Festival near Shell Energy Stadium. Riders connecting from the Red Line can transfer at Central Station, which makes the downtown core a more direct link between the fan event in East Downtown and the rest of the system.

The Red Line is also getting extended frequency on weekends and longer weekday operating hours. METRO said several bus routes will run more often as well, with some corridors moving from 30-minute service to 15-minute service, especially where late-night crowds are expected. Park-and-ride service will run seven days a week until midnight during the tournament, a useful shift for commuters who need a reliable way to reach downtown Houston or the stadium district without driving into the heaviest traffic.

For riders heading to or from the airport, METRO’s 500 Downtown Direct nonstop service now links both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport with downtown. The route runs about every 30 minutes and costs $4.50 one-way, making it one of the most practical options for visitors, workers and residents trying to avoid parking and freeway congestion.

METRO is also selling a commemorative 10-day transit pass for $32. The pass covers unlimited rides on Local Bus, METRORail, METRO curb2curb and 500 Downtown Direct, and it is valid during one of three travel windows: June 12-22, June 19-29 or June 26-July 6. That gives residents a flexible option for the most crowded stretch of the event calendar, when Houston’s seven matches are scheduled for June 14, June 17, June 20, June 23, June 26, June 29 and July 4.

Houston is one of the only two North American host cities with a Fan Festival for all 104 matches across all 39 days of the tournament, and officials expect more than 500,000 visitors and about $1.5 billion in regional economic impact. Houston received $9.09 million in federal transit funding for World Cup-related improvements, part of a $100 million national investment from the U.S. Department of Transportation. With FIFA controlling NRG Park from May 15 through July 11, METRO’s service changes are now part of the city’s core game-day infrastructure, not just a benefit for out-of-town fans.