Eligibility Information   Who Is Eligible? There are two categories for METROLift eligibility. Persons with disabilities who are unable, without the assistance of another person, to board, navigate, ride or disembark from an accessible local bus. Persons with disabilities who are prevented from getting to and from the local bus due to their disability. Eligibility is based on a functional limitation preventing the patron from walking or rolling to a bus stop without assistance from others. Eligibility cannot be granted based solely on the lack of curb cuts or other environmental barriers, distance to the bus stop or because METROLift is perceived to be safer or more convenient than local bus service. Healthcare professionals certify the applicant’s disability. METRO makes the final eligibility decisions based upon the applicants’ functional abilities to navigate the fixed-route bus and light-rail system in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Eligibility & Recertification Process

You must complete and submit a METROLift application for a certification of eligibility form to become certified to use METROLift services. It is important that the eligibility form is completed properly.

Please complete your personal information on the METROLift eligibility form, including your signature on the line marked “Applicant’s Signature.” Then you must have your doctor or other METRO-approved healthcare professional complete and sign the physician section of the METROLift eligibility form.

The doctor must describe in detail (using lay terminology) why your disability prevents you from boarding, navigating, riding, or disembarking from the local bus, even if the local bus provides accessible features such as a wheelchair lift, ramp, bus and stop announcements, and infrastructure improvements at bus stops.

You also must ask the doctor to submit an additional signature on his or her professional letterhead or prescription form, verifying completion of your METROLift eligibility form. Remember, both the eligibility form (completely filled out) and the doctor’s additional signature must be submitted to METROLift for processing. Failure to do so will delay the processing of your application.

Call METROLift Customer Service at 713-225-0119 (TDD 713-652-8969) between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, and ask that a METROLift application for certification of eligibility be mailed to you.

Applications are available at the METRO RideStore at 1900 Main at St. Joseph.

Send the completed application to:
METROLift
P.O. Box 61429
Houston, TX 77208-1429

After the properly completed eligibility form has been received by METROLift, you will receive a letter explaining how to make an appointment for your in-person interview. The in-person interview will help METRO determine which of the METRO services will provide you with the greatest mobility.

Applicants can schedule in-person eligibility interview appointments Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 713-225-0119. Interview appointments must be scheduled in advance, walk-ins will not be accepted. Applications are considered incomplete if applicants do not call to schedule or fail to keep their in-person eligibility interview appointments and no further processing will be made by METRO.

After the in-person interview has been conducted, a decision regarding eligibility will be furnished in writing within 21 days. If a decision is not made within this time period, the patron has the right to use the service until a decision is made.

Process for Eligibility Appeals

Applicants who are denied METROLift service have the right to appeal METRO’s decision. Appeals must be received within 60 days and mailed to the following address:
METROLift Eligibility Appeals
P.O. Box 61429
Houston, TX 77208-1429

Appeals will be forwarded to the METROLift Appeals Committee for review and final ruling. The Appeals Committee is comprised of an independent group of people with disabilities and advocates for people with disabilities. Patrons have the right to use the service if the appeal decision is not made within 30 days after all required information to process the appeal has been received by the Appeals Committee.

Application is available at METRO RideStore, 1900 Main St., or by calling METROLift Customer Service at 713-225-0119 or download PDF and download application letter (PDF).

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