Facing a $6 million increase in operating expenses and 16% growth in rider demand, Houston METRO needed a fast, compliant way to expand capacity for its METROLift paratransit service while optimizing cost efficiency. By partnering with UZURV through the 791 Purchasing Cooperative and integrating directly with its RideCo software, Houston METRO launched service in November 2025 — maintaining a 98%+ on-time performance rate while improving per-trip cost efficiency by 34%.
Challenge:
After a 16% year-over-year ridership jump, overall paratransit costs for Houston METRO’s METROLift service grew by more than $6 million, according to National Transit Database (NTD) reporting. This rapid volume growth quickly constrained the agency’s dedicated operations. Managing service spikes and low-density areas required flexible, supplemental capacity to balance core fleet availability, maintenance cycles, and overall system predictability.
To keep operating budgets sustainable while preserving safety and performance, Houston METRO needed a proven, FTA-compliant partner to cover overflow trips, optimize per-trip costs, and complement core operations.
Core Outcomes
34%
Per-Trip Cost Efficiency
(compared against 2024 NTD baseline reporting)
41+
Day Rapid Service Launch
Native RideCo Software Integration
98%
On-Time Performance (OTP)
Solution:
By leveraging the 791 Purchasing Cooperative, Houston METRO streamlined procurement and launched UZURV as a pilot program in just 41 days. To support the rollout, UZURV deployed a scalable, vetted driver network credentialed in ADA door-to-door service standards and compliant with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) drug and alcohol testing requirements.
Alongside its credentialed driver network, UZURV integrated directly with Houston’s RideCo software for automated dispatching while providing real-time oversight and transparent reporting to METROLift leadership:
- Cost efficiency & regulatory compliance: Maximized per-trip operating budgets while meeting FTA drug-and-alcohol testing and ADA credentialing requirements across all supplemental trips.
- Direct RideCo integration: Connected directly to Houston METRO’s scheduling software to automatically assign and optimize overflow trips.
- Live operations oversight: Monitored trips in real time to proactively address potential service disruptions before they impacted riders, enabling greater service predictability.
- Operational reporting & analytics: Allowed METROLift leadership to track efficiency, monitor safety, and maintain service-wide stability.