Commuters can ride The Woodlands Express to Houston at no cost on the two remaining Fridays in September.

The Township-backed bus service is waiving its $17 round-trip fare every Friday in September as part of Commute Solutions Month, a Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) initiative encouraging drivers to try public transit. No tickets are needed. Riders board on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 are the final two free-fare dates. The promotion began Sept. 4.

The Woodlands Express runs from three Park and Ride locations to four Houston employment centers: Downtown Houston, Greenway Plaza, Texas Medical Center and the Energy Corridor. The three pickup points are Research Forest Park & Ride at 3900 Marsico Place, Sterling Ridge Park & Ride at 8001 McBeth Way and Sawdust Park & Ride at 701 Westridge Road.

Regular routes and schedules apply on free-fare days. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Township pitched the promotion in late August as a chance for first-time riders to experience the service. The Township said in a statement reported by Fox 26 that Free Fare Fridays offer "a free, convenient and comfortable way to travel to Houston destinations" for regular commuters and newcomers alike.

The program is part of a broader regional effort. H-GAC's Commute Solutions program partnered with TxDOT, Harris County METRO, Fort Bend County, the City of Conroe and Gulf Coast Transit District to offer free bus rides across the Texas Gulf Coast region every Friday in September, Hello Woodlands reported.

"Choosing transit is one of the easiest ways residents can help reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality," Jamila Owens, H-GAC's assistant director of transportation, said in a Sept. 1 statement reported by Hello Woodlands.

On high-traffic days, 60 percent of ground-level ozone comes from vehicle emissions, according to H-GAC, citing the 2023 National Emissions Inventory from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The normal round-trip fare rose to $17 from $15 on April 1 after a Board-approved increase, Community Impact reported.

Riders can view routes and schedules at woodlandstransit.com/Express. The final Free Fare Friday is Sept. 25.