Market Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops

by
Houston METRO 48 Market rider guide

Market Bus Schedule: Times, Stops, Fare & Live Arrivals

The U.S. transit route most directly matching a market bus schedule search is Houston METRO Route 48 Market. It connects Downtown Houston with Fifth Ward, Denver Harbor, Market Street and Pleasantville-area destinations.

Route 48 generally operates about every 60 minutes during most operating hours, so checking the correct direction, exact stop and live arrival is especially important before walking to the bus stop.

Route 48 Schedule Live Bus Arrival Fare & Transfers Stops & Map
Quick rider answer

Market Bus Usually Means Houston METRO Route 48 Market

METRO Route 48 Market runs between Downtown Houston and Pleasantville-area destinations through neighborhoods and corridors including Fifth Ward, Denver Harbor, Lyons Avenue, Jensen, Navigation and Market Street.

48 Confirm route

Look for METRO 48 Market.

→ Pick direction

Downtown or Pleasantville.

ID Find stop

Use your exact METRO stop.

⏱ Check arrival

Use live tracking before leaving.

$ Prepare fare

Tap, scan or use exact cash.

Important: “Market bus” is not a universal route name. Other cities also have Market Street routes and market-area buses. This page focuses on Houston METRO 48 Market because it is an officially named “Market” route. If you are not traveling in Houston, confirm your city and agency first.

Market Bus Rider Guide

Schedule Hours & Frequency Stops Destinations Live Tracking Fare Transfers Map Alerts Accessibility Rider Tips Official Sources
Official Route 48 workflow

How to Check the Market Bus Schedule

METRO’s official Route 48 page provides a stop-by-stop schedule rather than requiring riders to decode one large timetable. Use the schedule selector in this order:

1 Select direction

Choose the Downtown or Pleasantville direction.

2 Select stop

Choose the exact boarding stop.

3 Select day

Choose weekday, Saturday or Sunday.

4 Read times

Review scheduled departures for that stop.

5 Check live

Confirm the estimated arrival shortly before travel.

Open the official METRO 48 Market schedule

Service span

Route 48 Market Hours and Frequency

METRO currently lists Route 48 Market at approximately 60-minute frequency during most operating hours on both weekdays and weekends.

Service day Typical first trip Typical last trip Frequency guide
Monday–Friday Between about 5:00–6:00 a.m. Between about 10:00 p.m.–midnight About every 60 minutes for most operating hours
Saturday Between about 5:00–6:00 a.m. Between about 10:00 p.m.–midnight About every 60 minutes for most operating hours
Sunday Between about 5:00–6:00 a.m. Between about 10:00 p.m.–midnight About every 60 minutes for most operating hours
Do not treat these ranges as your stop’s exact first or last bus. METRO describes these as approximate route operating windows. Your boarding stop may have a later first trip or earlier final usable trip. Open the stop-by-stop schedule for exact times.
Hourly-route rider tip: because Route 48 runs about once per hour for much of the day, missing one bus can add a long wait. Arrive around 5–10 minutes early and check live tracking before walking to the stop.
Direction and stop guide

Market Bus Stops and Direction

Route 48 has two principal travel directions. Match the destination shown on the bus before boarding, especially around Downtown Houston where several local routes share nearby streets and stops.

Eastbound toward Pleasantville Use this direction for trips from Downtown Houston toward Fifth Ward, Denver Harbor, Market Street and Pleasantville-area destinations.
Westbound toward Downtown Use this direction when traveling from Pleasantville, Denver Harbor and Fifth Ward toward central Downtown Houston.
Practical Route 48 corridor flow
1 Downtown 2 Congress 3 Jensen / Navigation 4 Lyons 5 Denver Harbor 6 Market Street 7 Pleasantville
Stop-side warning: Market Street and nearby corridors contain multiple bus stops. The stop across the street may serve the opposite direction. Confirm the route number, destination and stop location before waiting.
Useful destinations

Places Served by METRO 48 Market

METRO’s official Route 48 information lists community destinations along the corridor. These landmarks are useful for checking whether Route 48 matches your trip.

Downtown Houston Central Business District and downtown transfers.
Market Square Park Listed near Congress at Milam.
Houston Municipal Courts Listed near Congress at Austin.
Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center Listed near Market at Benson.
Denver Harbor Post Office Listed near Market at Shotwell.
Health & Human Services Denver Harbor Listed near Market at Rouse.
Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center Listed near Lyons at Copeland.
Guadalupe Plaza Park Listed near South Jensen at Navigation.
Peavy Senior Citizen Center Listed near Market at Worms.
Real-time arrival tools

How to Track the Market Bus Live

METRO provides multiple ways to check estimated bus arrivals. A live prediction is more useful than relying only on an hourly scheduled time when traffic or a service disruption affects Route 48.

📱 RideMETRO App

Choose Route 48 and direction, then view active vehicles and estimated arrivals.

SMS Text arrival

Text your stop ID and route number to 697433.

WEB METRO website

Use the bus tracking feature on the METRO website.

MAP Map apps

METRO also supports trip planning through Google Maps and Apple Maps.

⚠ Check alerts

Review the red alert indicator if shown for your selected route.

Scheduled time vs live arrival: the timetable is the planned trip. A live estimate reflects current vehicle information when available. Neither should be treated as an absolute guarantee.

Open official RideMETRO app information

Fare and payment

Market Bus Fare: $1.25 Regular Local Fare

Route 48 Market is a METRO local bus route. METRO currently lists a regular local bus fare of $1.25 and a $0.60 discounted fare for eligible customers who have the required discounted fare card.

Regular local fare $1.25 Route 48 local bus

Applies to local bus customers who are not eligible for discounted fare.

Discounted fare $0.60 Eligibility required

Available to eligible students, seniors 65–69 and qualifying riders with disabilities using the required discounted fare card.

Cash $1.25 Exact cash recommended

No change is provided and free transfers are not included when paying cash.

Ways to Pay on Route 48

RideMETRO Fare Card Tap the physical reusable card when boarding.
RideMETRO App Scan the virtual fare card QR code below the fare validator.
Credit or debit card METRO accepts major contactless card networks listed on its fare page.
Apple Pay / Google Pay Tap the same mobile-wallet payment method throughout a transfer trip.
Transfer rules

Free Transfers Are Available With Eligible Payment Methods

METRO provides free transfers for up to three hours between eligible services when riders use an eligible electronic payment method such as a physical or virtual RideMETRO Fare Card, qualifying bank card, mobile wallet or eligible ticket.

Local bus → local bus Eligible electronic fare payments can include free transfers during the three-hour transfer window.
Local bus → METRORail Eligible fare media can be used for free transfer to equal-or-lower-fare services during the allowed window.
Cash payment Cash does not include free transfers. A second boarding requires another fare.
Use the same payment method: if you start with a physical credit card, tap that same physical card when transferring. METRO treats a physical card and the same card stored in a mobile wallet as different payment methods.
Map and orientation

Downtown Houston Market Bus Map

Market Square Park is one of the officially listed Route 48 destinations and is useful for orienting downtown riders. Use METRO’s official Route 48 map for the full bus alignment and stop-by-stop schedule.

  • Confirm Route 48 Market before using this map.
  • Match Downtown or Pleasantville direction.
  • Use the official METRO route map for exact bus alignment.
  • Check stop ID before waiting.
  • Review live arrival before leaving.
  • Check service alerts for temporary stop moves.
Service alerts

Check Route 48 Alerts and Detours

METRO provides route-specific alerts that can affect arrival times, stop locations or the route path. The official Route 48 page includes a current-alert link and an option to subscribe for notifications.

Road work Construction on Market Street or nearby corridors may temporarily move a stop.
Downtown events Events and closures can alter downtown traffic and bus routing.
Weather Houston weather can affect travel time or operating conditions.
Service disruption Use the METRO alerts page or RideMETRO app when a route alert is active.

Check current METRO alerts and detours

Accessibility

Route 48 Uses Accessible Vehicles

METRO lists Route 48 Market as operating with accessible vehicles. METRO also provides boarding assistance for riders using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walkers.

Accessible vehicle Route 48 is identified by METRO as an accessible local bus route.
Mobility device boarding Riders can wait for the operator to activate the accessible ramp at the front door.
Priority seating Priority seating areas are provided for elderly riders and customers with disabilities.
Stop accessibility still matters: vehicle accessibility does not guarantee that every sidewalk or temporary stop is equally easy to reach. Construction, curb conditions and temporary detours may change the boarding environment.
On-board feature

Free Wi-Fi on Route 48

METRO lists Free Wi-Fi as an available feature on Route 48 Market. Availability or connection quality can vary while the vehicle is moving.

Work or messages Wi-Fi can help with basic browsing or messaging during the ride.
Track your stop Keep the RideMETRO app open to monitor the route and upcoming stop.
Do not rely on Wi-Fi alone Download important information before boarding if your trip is time-sensitive.
Local rider workflow

Before You Ride the Market Bus

  • Confirm you need Houston METRO 48 Market.
  • Choose Downtown or Pleasantville direction.
  • Select your exact boarding stop.
  • Check weekday, Saturday or Sunday schedule.
  • Allow 5–10 minutes before the scheduled departure.
  • Check a live arrival because service is often about hourly.
  • Prepare your fare before the bus arrives.
  • Use electronic payment if you need free transfers.
  • Check alerts for detours or temporary stop closures.
  • Verify the final return trip before making a late-evening journey.
Official METRO sources

Official Market Bus Rider Tools

METRO 48 Market

Official frequency, route map, stop-by-stop schedule, operating hours, popular destinations, fares and alerts.

Open Route 48 Market
RideMETRO App

Trip planning, scheduled and live arrivals, active bus locations, fare card tools and service-alert indicators.

Open RideMETRO app guide
METRO service alerts

Current delays, interruptions, route changes and detours.

Open service alerts
METRO rider FAQs

Official instructions for schedules, maps, fares, transfers, boarding and accessibility.

Open METRO rider FAQs
FAQs

Market Bus Schedule FAQs

What is the Market bus schedule?

For Houston riders, Market bus commonly refers to METRO Route 48 Market. The official Route 48 page provides stop-by-stop schedules for weekday, Saturday and Sunday service.

How often does the 48 Market bus run?

METRO currently lists Route 48 at about every 60 minutes during most operating hours on weekdays and weekends. Exact times vary by stop.

What time does the Market bus start?

METRO lists the first Route 48 trips as generally starting between about 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. depending on the day and direction. Use the stop-by-stop schedule for your exact boarding point.

What time is the last Route 48 Market bus?

METRO lists route service ending approximately between 10:00 p.m. and midnight. Your exact last usable bus depends on direction and stop.

Where does the Market bus go?

Route 48 connects Downtown Houston with Fifth Ward, Denver Harbor, Market Street, Navigation/Jensen and Pleasantville-area destinations.

How much is the Market bus fare?

METRO currently lists a regular local bus fare of $1.25 and a discounted fare of $0.60 for eligible riders with the required discounted fare card.

Can I pay cash on the 48 Market bus?

Yes. METRO accepts exact cash on local buses. No change is given, and free transfers are not included with a cash fare.

How do I track Route 48 live?

Use the RideMETRO app, METRO website or next-bus texting service. METRO says riders can text the bus stop ID and route number to 697433 for estimated arrivals.

Is Route 48 Market wheelchair accessible?

Yes. METRO identifies Route 48 as operating with accessible vehicles and provides boarding assistance for mobility-device users.

How early should I arrive for the Market bus?

Arriving around 5–10 minutes early is practical, particularly because Route 48 commonly runs about hourly. Check live tracking before walking to the stop.

Leave a Comment