Fort Bend Transit Launches Free Fare Fridays This September to Support Cleaner Air
Starting this September, Fort Bend Transit is offering free rides every Friday to help residents breathe a little easier—literally.
The initiative, known as Free Fare Fridays, is part of a broader campaign by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and its Commute Solutions program to tackle one of the region’s most persistent environmental challenges: ozone pollution.
Approved by Fort Bend County Commissioners Court on August 26, the free ride program will apply to all Fort Bend Transit services, including Commuter and Demand Response routes, every Friday in September.
“We are challenging our community to ride Fort Bend Transit and help us improve the air in our neighborhoods,” said Perri D’Armond, Fort Bend Transit Director. “By choosing transit, even one day a week, we can all play a role in making it easier to breathe and keep our community healthier.”
Mobile Sidebar Ad
Why September Matters for Air Quality
September is historically one of the worst months for air quality in the Houston region, including Fort Bend County. Even as summer winds down, the lingering heat, sunshine, and high traffic volumes create perfect conditions for ground-level ozone to form. Add in back-to-school commuting and the occasional stagnant weather system, and you’ve got a recipe for increased pollution.
Ozone pollution is a serious issue—especially for kids, older adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. It’s invisible, but it can make the air feel heavy and trigger health symptoms even in healthy individuals.
Fort Bend County’s participation in Free Fare Fridays is timed to coincide with Ozone Action Month, an annual awareness effort that encourages Texans to change their daily habits to protect air quality.
Region Still Working Toward Federal Ozone Standards
Fort Bend is part of the larger Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) air quality region, which continues to fall short of federal ozone standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The current federal health-based limit for ozone is 70 parts per billion (ppb) averaged over eight hours.
Unfortunately, the Houston region—including Fort Bend—has not yet met this standard, largely due to:
- High traffic volumes from a growing population,
- Emissions from petrochemical and industrial sites,
- Hot, sunny weather, which fuels ozone formation.
Despite improvements over the past decade, the region still carries a “nonattainment” classification, meaning the air does not yet meet federal health benchmarks.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
Every Ride Helps
With over 925,000 residents and rapid growth continuing in cities like Fulshear, Sugar Land, Richmond, Missouri City, and Rosenberg, Fort Bend County faces increasing transportation and environmental pressures. Free Fare Fridays offer a simple way for residents to be part of the solution.
By leaving the car at home just one day a week, riders can reduce emissions, cut traffic congestion, save money, and support cleaner air for everyone.
How to Ride Free
- When: Every Friday in September
- Cost: FREE on all Fort Bend Transit services
- Applies to: Commuter and Demand Response routes (Transit Look-Up App)
- Learn More: fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/public-transportation
- Learn About Air Quality: yourcommutesolution.org/breathe
Since its founding in 2005, Fort Bend Transit has connected communities across the county through accessible, reliable public transportation. This latest effort reflects their mission to offer a smarter way to travel—one that also supports a healthier environment.
Whether you're commuting to work, running errands, or simply exploring your community, riding transit on Fridays this September is an easy way to make a positive impact on Fort Bend County’s air.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
