This semester, the University of Houston-Downtown rolled out a new program aimed at helping faculty, staff and students travel to and from campus.

UHD Parking & Transportation Service's RideSponsor Program will help reduce the monthly fare costs for University commuters. Through this initiative, Parking & Transportation will subsidize 25 percent of the monthly fare cost.

An example of how this program would works is as follows:

If a University community member commutes from METRO Ride Zone 4, the monthly bus fare totals $198 ($9 roundtrip x 22 days a month). UHD will subsidize 25 percent of this fee ($49.50) and provide a METRO Q fare card for that amount. The commuter would then purchase a separate card for the remainder of the monthly fare ($148.50).

Students are already eligible for a 50 percent subsidy through METRO. They can receive the UHD RideSponsor subsidy in addition to the METRO discount.

Commuters would participate in this program in lieu of receiving an annual parking pass. Participants, however, would receive four visitors parking validations each semester to use when they need to bring vehicles to campus.

To learn more about UHD's RideSponsor program, contact Parking & Transportation Services at parking@uhd.edu or 713-221-8127. More details and a RideSponsor membership form are available here.