METRO's Board of Directors makes the big calls on Houston transit — bus routes, rail, fares, and budgets. Meetings are free, open to everyone, and held monthly downtown. You can even speak directly to the board if you register two days ahead.
The METRO (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County) Board of Directors oversees all public transit in the Houston region. At each monthly meeting, they vote on bus routes, METRORail operations, fares, capital projects like new bus rapid transit lines and park-and-rides, METROLift paratransit services for riders with disabilities, and the regional transit budget. Meetings typically run one to three hours and are free to attend. Board members are appointed, not elected — three by the City of Houston, three by Harris County, and three by other participating cities.
Use what you learned here to prepare before you go. Check the agenda at ridemetro.org/about/board-meetings so you know what the board will discuss. If you want to speak, register at least 48 hours ahead — walk-up comment is not guaranteed. Keep your remarks to three minutes and be specific: name the route, service, or policy you care about. If a bus line affects your daily commute, say so. Personal stories and real data — wait times, missed connections, ridership patterns — carry weight. If attending in person, the Red Line METRORail stops at Ensemble/HCC station, two blocks south of METRO headquarters. After the meeting, materials are posted online and the board office can answer follow-up questions.
Fourth Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM. Committee meetings are held the week before the full board meeting.
METRO Headquarters, 1900 Main Street, Houston TX 77002. Zoom access is also available for those who cannot attend in person.
If transit affects your daily life in Houston — getting to work, school, or medical appointments — this board is the right place to make your voice heard. Neighbors dealing with long waits, route cuts, or accessibility gaps on METROLift can all bring those concerns here. Community groups, civic associations, and neighborhood organizations are also welcome to participate.
This nine-member board shapes how you get around Houston. They decide which buses run in your neighborhood, how often, how much a ride costs, and where transit dollars go. Showing up — or speaking up — lets you influence those decisions directly.
