Free New Year’s Eve rides on public transit across Puget Sound region
Dec 28, 2021, 1:51 PM
Buses in downtown Seattle. (Photo courtesy of King County Metro/Twitter)
(Photo courtesy of King County Metro/Twitter)
For those who have plans to go out this New Year’s Eve, you’ll be able to catch a free ride on public transit in much of the Puget Sound area.
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Community Transit is suspending fare collections from 4 a.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday.
Sound Transit will offer a similar program for Link light rail and ST express buses, with fare-free rides from 4 a.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday. Link light rail service will operate on an extended schedule on New Year’s Eve, with 15-minute late night service. The last southbound trip will leave Northgate Station at 1:46 a.m. The last northbound train will leave Angle Lake at 1:37 a.m.
Sound Transit will also extend service on ST Express Routes 522, 545, 550, 554 and 594. Route 512 also operates after midnight with its regular schedule. For more details and for information about service throughout the holiday period, please visit the Sound Transit website.
King County Metro, Pierce Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar have also suspended fare collections on Friday, Dec. 31, into Saturday, Jan. 1.
King County Metro, along with @SoundTransit, @MyCommTrans and @PierceTransit are offering free rides on December 31.
Whether you're having an adventure day or counting down till midnight, travel safely and ride free on #NewYearsEve! 🚍🎆🎉
🔗Details https://t.co/vYqSQQisYw pic.twitter.com/F8bClji94P
— King County Metro 🚏 🚌🚎⛴🚐 (@kcmetrobus) December 22, 2021
“Whether you’re ringing in the New Year from home with friends and family, or planning a night on the town, we are teaming up across the region to offer free transportation and get everyone home safely this New Year’s Eve,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a written release. “This is our way of thanking our riders, and offering those who celebrate late into the New Year a safe alternative to getting behind the wheel.”
This program is mostly to discourage people from drinking and driving on the holiday as they ring in the new year. But with snow and ice expected to still be on the roadways by the end of the week, public transport could be the safest way to get home.
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Masks are required on transit vehicles and while waiting for transit service.
