Transportation
Airports
Houston has three airports. George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located 24 miles north of the Medical Center; William P. Hobby Airport, a smaller airport, is 10 miles southeast of the Medical Center and Ellington Field is 20 miles southeast of the Medical Center. Taxis cost over $45 to Intercontinental and over $25 to Hobby.
Southwest Airlines flies from Hobby to the larger Texas Cities and many other U. S. cities. Continental Airlines flies mainly from IAH and has discount flights in the U. S. and Mexico.
For IAH paging and airport information, call (281) 230-3000.
Offsite parking is about $5.00/day at minimum; terminal parking can run as high as $30/day. For more information on parking, visit the Houston Airport System Website.
Airport Ground Transportation
To avoid high taxi fares and parking fees, you may choose shuttle service to and from the airport. For pick-up times at various locations throughout the city call: Super Shuttle (800) 258-3826.
City Bus
Metro, the local bus system, operates citywide. Riders are charged a fare of $1.00 and must have exact change. Metro offers a Park & Ride service with numerous locations in areas of Houston and surrounding cities. You leave your car in a designated parking area (security guard during the day) and ride the bus to Downtown, the Galleria area, Greenway Plaza, or the Texas Medical Center. Metro also offers van share and a computerized one-day matching service for car-poolers. For more details on bus routes or Park & Ride locations, call (713) 635-4000 or pick up route pamphlets from displays around the Texas Medical Center (TMC) or visit the Metro Web page. TMC offers Metro passes at a discount. For additional information on carpooling or van sharing, call (713) 224-7433.
METRORail
In January 1, 2004, Metro launched Houston's new light rail system. METRORail runs from the South Fannin Park & Ride lot to downtown Houston, with stops in Reliant Park, the Texas Medical Center, the museum district and midtown. Trains run in both directions, running about six minutes apart. Each train can carry up to 400 passengers per trip. Tickets are $1 one way and $2 roundtrip.
Cabs
If you need a cab, your best bet is to telephone for one since you cannot easily hail them on the street corners. Rates are $4 for the first mile and $1.80 for each additional mile. The Yellow Pages telephone directory has listings of other taxi services. Taxi fares and services are regulated by the city.
(713) 225-2666 | |
(713) 695-1062 | |
Square Deal Cab | (713) 659-5105 |
(713) 699-0000 | |
(713) 236-1111 |
Rail
Amtrak provides intercity rail passenger service to and from Houston on the Texas Eagle and the Sunset Limited from the passenger station at 902 Washington near downtown. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for information and reservations.
Regional and Inter City Bus Lines
Greyhound provides bus service to an estimated 900 passengers a day through its Houston terminal at 2121 Main St. on the edge of downtown. Houston passengers can connect to most U. S. cities through stops in San Antonio, Dallas, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Greyhound buses make 40 daily departures and 41 daily arrivals at the Houston terminal.
Regional service
Several regional bus lines also operate out of the Houston terminal with an additional 40 daily departures to cities in Texas and nearby states.