This morning Metro CEO Art Leahy signed off on running all night service on the Metro Orange Line this New Year’s Eve. The Orange Line busway will join its steel-wheeled Metro Rail brethren (the Red, Purple, Blue, Green and Gold Lines) in offering this special 24-hour service to Metro riders. This is the first time since Metro began offering all night service on New Year’s Eve in 2003 that the Orange Line will be included.

This decision comes after the Los Angeles Daily News reported disappointment from San Fernando Valley residents who found out that the Orange Line, long marketed by Metro as a “train on rubber wheels”, was left out of the all night holiday service. The Orange Line connects the West San Fernando Valley to the Metro Red Line in North Hollywood which links up to the rest of the Metro Rail system and all the night spots in Hollywood and Downtown.

Metro already has three bus routes (Lines 92, 150/240, and 656) that offer late night owl service in the Valley and they will continue run as scheduled New Year’s eve.

Running the Orange Line all night will involve extra costs, but Metro is eager to monitor ridership on the line for future year’s consideration.

Read the full press release after the jump.

L.A. Metro to Operate Metro Orange Line All Night on New Year’s Eve

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will offer 24-hour service on the Metro Orange Line as well as all of its rail lines New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, to enable everyone in L.A. County to enjoy safe, hassle-free transportation to all their New Year’s holiday festivities.

The Metro Orange Line is an exclusive busway that connects Warner Center in the West San Fernando Valley and the Metro Red Line subway in North Hollywood. Metro considers it a “train on rubber wheels.” The Metro Orange Line service will match Metro Red Line service New Year ’s Eve.

Metro Red, Purple, Blue, Green and Gold Line trains will run every 20 minutes from 9 p.m., New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31, to 5 a.m. the next morning. To facilitate transit to the 2010 Pasadena Tournament of Roses® 121st Rose Parade, Metro also will provide additional train service with greater frequencies on the East Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold Line which has four stations (Del Mar, Memorial Park, Lake and Allen) within easy walking distance of the parade. New Year’s morning Friday, Jan. 1, beginning at 5 a.m. and continuing through 9 p.m., trains will run as frequently as every 7 to 8 minutes to and from Pasadena.

As an added incentive to encourage a safe holiday season, Metro has announced that all its bus and rail lines will be free of charge between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Parking is available at Union Station, which is served by the Metro Gold Line to Pasadena, or check metro.net for the locations of additional park/ride lots near other Metro Rail stations or use the Metro Trip Planner at www.metro.net for other convenient rail and bus connections. For phone assistance, call 1-800-COMMUTE.