Gulf Coast Transit District buses stop at the El Dorado Park and Ride near I-45 in Friendswood, giving Clear Lake area commuters a direct connection into the regional transit network.

The new route is part of a broader push by Commute Solutions, a subsidiary of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), to pull drivers out of single-occupancy vehicles as regional traffic surpasses pre-pandemic levels, Community Impact reported.

Commute Solutions coordinated with Houston METRO and Gulf Coast Transit District to bring the GCTD buses to the Friendswood station. Over a quarter of Galveston County residents work in Harris County, according to Robyn Egbert, H-GAC's manager of transportation demand management.

The timing matters for riders' wallets. Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 are the final two Free Fare Fridays of 2026, when passengers can board any Gulf Coast Transit District route in Galveston and Brazoria counties at no cost. The district confirmed the free rides on Facebook. No registration is required.

"You don't have to go online, fill out a form, there's none of that," Commute Solutions program coordinator Catherine Gray told Community Impact. "You literally just hop on and it's free."

The free-fare campaign launched in 2024 and is in its third year. Participating agencies saw up to a 20% ridership surge in September 2024 compared to the prior year, and further growth followed in September 2025. That demand carried into December before tapering off after the holidays, Gray said. Some transit agencies responded by adding permanent routes, according to Egbert.

Gulf Coast Transit District is the newest partner in the campaign. Other participants include The Woodlands Express, Conroe Connection and Fort Bend Transit. Houston METRO is not part of Free Fare Fridays.

Commute Solutions is also launching an emergency ride-home program with Houston-based taxi service Z Trips. Commuters who carpool, vanpool or ride transit can get an employer-funded taxi ride home if an unexpected situation arises, such as a sick child.

Egbert said the region's population is outpacing its infrastructure, and commuters need to rethink how they travel. Transit agencies participating in Free Fare Fridays are reimbursed through federal and state Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funding.

Riders can find schedules and program details through the Commute Solutions website.