Riders can travel FREE without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their New Year’s celebrations.
There are NO excuses for driving impaired. Planning ahead before celebrating is essential: call a sober friend, rideshare, taxi, or use public transportation.
Besides alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, extasy, meth, molly, heroin, acid, and other drugs (including some prescription drugs) will impair one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. PARTY SAFE, DON’T RISK YOUR LIFE OR TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS! Do not let a few hours of pleasure lead to a lifelong manslaughter conviction or the end of your life.
Regional transit agencies will operate on the following schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve rides:
- King County Metro: Buses will operate on their weekday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 through 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1.
- Other fare-free Metro-operated services: DART, on-demand Metro Flex, and Access service will operate on their weekday schedules.
- The fareboxes and ORCA card readers 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.
- Sound Transit: Link light rail and Sound Transit Express buses are fare-free from 4 a.m. Dec. 31, to 3 a.m. 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, DART paratransit services, and Zip Shuttle will operate on their regular weekday schedules. All services are fare-free from 4 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 through the end of the service day. Please check the schedules in advance of 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 on weekday service hours. The South Lake Union Streetcar will operate until 12:30 a.m. 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 1:00 a.m. after the events at the Center. Check the website for more information.
New Year’s Day service
On Wednesday, 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.
- Everett Transit will not operate on New Year’s Day.
Sources: Washington State Patrol, Community Transit, King County Metro Transit
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
