METRO to expand services for Final Four

HOUSTON

The agency says it's expecting up to 15,000 additional riders during the course of NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament so it's expanding its light-rail and bus services to accommodate everyone planning to attend the Final Four events Houston. The games are being hosted at Reliant Park, but a fan festival is being held at the George R. Brown Convention Center and several concerts are being planned at Discovery Green.

METRO says it's adding more buses from its four major Park and Ride locations to shuttle people to and from downtown and is extending its light-rail hours until the wee hours of the night.

On Friday and Saturday, the last northbound METRORail train will leave at 1:40am and the last southbound train is scheduled to leave at 2:20am.

On Sunday, the rail will operate within its normal hours, with the last northbound train leaving at 11pm and the last southbound train departing at 11:40pm.

Monday, shuttle buses will leave every five minutes between 2 and 7pm, and the northbound rail will operate until 1:40am, while the last southbound one will be available until 2:20am.

METRORail fare is $1.25, and the tickets are valid for three hours. Tickets can be purchased at rail stations.

For more information regarding METRO services during the weekend, go to: http://www.ridemetro.org/FinalFour/.