Public transit intelligence for everyone.
Zero apps. Zero mobile data. Just text.
Instant bus arrival countdowns, regional commuter rail schedules, and university shuttles delivered straight to any phone via SMS or Automated Voice Call in under 2 seconds. Reaching 100% of riders with zero apps, zero data, and full ADA accessibility.
Sponsored by Rio Grande Credit Union • riograndecu.org
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Underwriting 100% Free Public Transit Telephony Across Albuquerque
Sponsored by Rio Grande Credit Union • riograndecu.org
Our Current Line of Services
Simple, instant transit information built for daily commuters, students, and visitors across New Mexico.
City Bus & ART Rapid Transit
Sub-second live countdowns for 1,758 stops across Albuquerque. Complete real-time tracking for ART Red and Green lines, local routes, and crosstown corridors.
NM Rail Runner Commuter Rail
Complete train schedules, next departure alerts, and intermodal transfer guidance covering 14 stations from Belen to Santa Fe Depot.
UNM & UNMH Campus Shuttles
Serving 35,000+ university students, healthcare staff, and hospital patients across South Lot, Redondo Loop, G-Lot, CCT Cancer Center, and UNMH patient loops.
Proactive Departure Alarms
Riders reply with "remind me in 8 mins" to receive an automated SMS wake-up alert before boarding, allowing them to stay safely indoors during cold or heat.
Bilingual Spanish & English AI
Full conversational natural language understanding. Spanish queries like "¿A qué hora pasa el autobús?" automatically trigger accurate Spanish responses.
Native Corridor Sponsorships
Enables local merchants and universities to sponsor specific transit corridors with non-intrusive 160-character promotions boasting 98% open rates and zero ad-blocker loss.
Santa Fe Trails Municipal Fleet
Serving the Historic Downtown Plaza, Museum Hill, Meow Wolf, and Cerrillos Road commercial corridor, with instant Rail Runner train transfers at SF Depot.
24/7 Automated Phone Hotline
Riders can dial the exact same number to hear clear spoken arrival times in English or Spanish, enter stop numbers on their keypad, and receive arrival texts with one click.
How It Works in Your Hands
Test any transit scenario below to see how our assistant provides instant, effortless bus and train arrivals.
How Riders Experience MetroSMS
No app store accounts. No passwords to remember. No 150MB mobile apps consuming storage and mobile data.
Text Your Location
Send any intersection, bus stop code, or train station name to our numbers: (505) 448-8007 (Albuquerque Bus), (505) 448-8030 (Rail Runner), (505) 448-8702 (UNM), or (505) 448-8199 (Santa Fe Trails).
Get Live Countdowns
Within 1.8 seconds, receive exact real-time arrival times, route numbers, line directions, and accessibility information.
Set Departure Alarms
Reply "Remind me in 8 min" to receive an automatic text when it is time to step out to the stop or platform.
Save Favorite Stops
Text "SAVE HOME Central & Yale" to bookmark your daily stop. Text "HOME" anytime for 1-word arrivals.
Why SMS Wins for Public Transit
Comparing MetroSMS against legacy mobile apps and traditional 311 automated hotlines.
| Capability | MetroSMS™ | Transit Apps | 311 Hotline |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Download Required? | NO (0 MB) | YES (150MB+) | NO |
| Requires Active Cellular Data? | NO (Plain Carrier SMS) | YES (Continuous data) | NO |
| Time to Arrival Countdown | 1 - 2 Seconds | 15 - 30 Seconds | 2 - 5 Minutes |
| Works on Basic / Flip Phones? | YES (100% Universal) | NO | YES |
| Battery & CPU Consumption | Near 0% | High (GPS & Maps) | Low |
| Proactive Departure Alarms | Automated SMS Wake-Up | App Push Only | None |
Dedicated Transit Phone Gateways
Verified phone lines providing instant text and voice arrival times for municipal transit, commuter rail, Rio Metro express buses, UNM campus shuttles, Santa Fe municipal lines, and NMDOT Park & Ride coaches across New Mexico.
Albuquerque Bus & ART
1,758 Stops • 22 Routes • ART Rapid
Rail Runner & Rio Metro
14 Stations • Routes 250, 251, 222
UNM Lobo Shuttles
28+ Stops • Hospital • South Lot
Santa Fe Trails
Plaza • Meow Wolf • Cerrillos
Call Any Number for Spoken Bus & Train Arrivals
Riders who prefer calling or have visual impairments can call our numbers directly. Our automated voice service speaks live arrival times clearly in natural English or Spanish, accepts keypad stop numbers, and can text arrival details to your phone with a single keypress.
Put Your Brand in Front of Thousands of Daily Commuters
Sponsor the bus routes and rail stations directly outside your business. Clean 160-character native SMS promotions delivered exclusively to riders actively waiting for their vehicles. 98% open rates with zero ad-blocker loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using MetroSMS as a rider, transit agency, or local sponsor.
Does MetroSMS charge any fees to riders?
No! MetroSMS is 100% free for all transit riders. Standard text messaging rates from your wireless carrier apply just like texting a friend. There are zero subscriptions, app charges, or premium SMS fees.
How do I search for transit arrival times?
Text any street intersection (e.g. Central & Yale), 4-digit bus stop ID (e.g. 1081), commuter train station (e.g. TRAIN ATC), or campus shuttle stop (e.g. South Lot) to its respective gateway number.
How do proactive departure alarms work?
After receiving an arrival countdown, reply with "remind me in 8 mins" or "alarm 5m". Our background scheduler will automatically send you an SMS wake-up alert before your bus departs.
Is my phone number shared or sold to marketers?
Never. In accordance with our strict Privacy Policy and carrier rules, mobile phone numbers used for transit communications will NEVER be sold, rented, leased, or shared with third parties for marketing under any circumstances.
Can I opt out or stop receiving text messages?
Yes, at any time. Simply text STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT to any of our numbers to immediately revoke messaging. Text START to reactivate.