Ringing in the New Year: King County Metro and regional transit agencies celebrate New Year’s Eve with free fares

ByElaine Porterfield, King County Metro

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their holiday celebrations.

“Leaving the driving to us is becoming as great a New Year’s tradition as celebrating at the Space Needle,” Executive Zahilay said. “No matter where you plan to ring in the new year, you have access to free transit options to get you there!”

Regional transit agencies will operate on the following schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve rides.

New Year’s Eve service

  • King County Metro:Buses will operate on their weekday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve), through 3 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1.
    • DART, on-demand Metro Flex, and Access services also will operate fare free and deliver service on their weekday schedules.
    • The fareboxes on Metro buses will be covered to remind customers not to pay. During this period, the Transit GO Ticket mobile ticketing app will not allow ticket activations for all Metro services, the Seattle Streetcar, and Sound Transit.
  • King County Water Taxi: The water taxi will operate fare-free on Dec. 31. The Vashon and West Seattle routes will be out of service on Jan. 1 holiday.
  • Sound Transit:Link light rail and Sound Transit Express buses are fare-free from 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 3 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1. Sound Transit will operate extended 1 Line Link light rail service on New Year’s Eve, with 15-minute, late-night service. The last southbound trip will leave Lynnwood Station at 2:01 a.m. The last northbound train will leave Angle Lake Station at 1:55 a.m. Service will not be extended on the 2 Line for New Year’s Eve. For more information go to the Sound Transit website.
  • Community Transit: All Community Transit buses will operate on regular weekday schedules. All services are fare-free from 4 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 through 4 a.m. Thursday, Jan.1. Please check schedules before the holiday as route times vary.
  • Everett Transit: Will operate fare-free on its regular weekday schedule.
  • Pierce Transit: Pierce Transit services will operate on a weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve. Rides on Pierce Transit buses, SHUTTLE paratransit, and Runner will be free all day through the close of service. Check the transit routes and holiday service for more information.
  • Seattle Streetcar:Both streetcars will operate fare-free on New Year’s Eve with weekday service hours. There will be no extended service on the South Lake Union Streetcar to accommodate fireworks viewing downtown.

The Seattle Center Monorail will collect its regular fare on New Year’s Eve. The Monorail is scheduled to operate from Westlake to the Seattle Center until 11 p.m. Service from the Seattle Center to Westlake will run from 12:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. after the events at the Center. Check the website for more information.

New Year’s Day service

On Thursday, Jan. 1, transit customers are reminded that most bus and rail services will operate on Sunday schedules and regular, valid fares will be required. Please see below for operating hours by local transit agencies:

  • King County Metro will operate on a Sunday Schedule,
  • Sound Transit will operate ST Express and Link light rail on a Sunday schedule,
  • Pierce Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule, and
  • Everett Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule.

 

Reminder: Upcoming holiday service schedules for Dec. 24, and Dec. 25

  • King County Metro buses and on-demand Metro Flex services will operate on their weekday schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and on a Sunday schedule on Thursday, Dec. 25.
  • King County Water Taxi will not operate on Dec. 25.
  • Seattle Streetcar lines will run regular service on Dec. 24. On Dec. 25, the South Lake Union Streetcar will not operate; the First Hill Streetcar will operate on its Sunday schedule.
  • Sound Transit bus and Link light rail will operate on their weekday schedule on Dec. 24. Link will operate on a weekday schedule, and Sounder train service will also operate on a  weekday schedule. On Dec. 25, Link Light Rail will run its Sunday schedule and Tacoma Link will operate on its Sunday schedule.
  • Community Transit will operate a regular weekday schedule on Dec. 24, and a Sunday schedule on Dec. 25. Zip Shuttle will operate its regular schedule on both days.
  • Everett Transit will operate its regular schedule on Dec. 24 but will not operate on Dec. 25.
  • Pierce Transit will operate on its regular schedule on Dec. 24 and its Sunday schedule on Dec. 25.

Customer service, trip planning support, and tools

  • Most King County offices, including Metro’s Lost and Found, will be closed on Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) and Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day.)
  • Metro’s Customer Information Office: Trip planning specialists are available by phone weekdays Friday, Dec. 26, through Wednesday, Dec. 31, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 206-553-3000.
  • To plan a trip or check the status of your bus, use Metro’s Trip Planner. Regular fares will still be displayed on trip itineraries. The “Next Departures” section will show you the real-time status of buses operating at your location. You also can text your stop number to 62550 for on-the-go updates. Temporary service disruptions are not reflected in Trip Planner results; check the online Service Advisories table for updates.

 

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