The Rose Queen Court on the Gold Line this morning. Photo by Luis Inzunza/Metro.

With New Year’s Day on a Sunday this year, Metro has decided to run 24-hour service on all five rail lines and the Orange Line busway beginning on Saturday night — New Year’s Eve — until the close of service on Monday night, Jan. 2.

Free rides on all Metro buses and trains are being offered on New Year’s Eve from 9 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. That’s part of a public safety initiative. Anyone boarding a Metro bus or train after 2 a.m. Sunday must pay a fare.

The Tournament of Roses parade this year and the Rose Bowl game are being held on Monday, Jan. 2 — the parade begins at 8 a.m. and the game kicks off at 2:10 p.m. As a result, Metro Rail and the Orange Line will be in service all night on Sunday and early Monday morning. (Here’s the Tournament of Roses website).

Metro will also add train service on Monday to accommodate heavy passenger loads to and from Pasadena.

For out of town visitors: Fares on Metro are $1.50 per ride on a single line. A day pass for $5 offers unlimited rides for a single day. Here is a map of our bus and rail system and here is a map of the Gold Line light rail connecting Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena. Here is the parade route map.

In addition, on Jan. 2, Metrolink commuter rail will be running trains on the San Bernardino and Antelope Valley Line, plus offering 2-for-1 discounts.

An event is being held this morning in downtown L.A. to promote Metro service to the Tournament of Roses. Here is the official news release from Metro, with more details:

METRO, METROLINK THE EASIEST, MOST ECONOMICAL WAY TO TRAVEL TO 2012 TOURNAMENT OF ROSES^® FESTIVITIES

 

For those planning to attend the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade^® and other festivities in Pasadena, there is no easier way to get there than Metro and Metrolink.

The 123rd Rose Parade^® presented by Honda themed “Just Imagine…” will feature spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and equestrian units.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will provide fast, frequent rail service to and from Pasadena, with four station stops near the parade route.  Event-goers traveling by Metro will also avoid the costs of parking and hassle of traffic in Pasadena.

With this year’s Tournament festivities planned to begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, Metro will be ready with all rail lines – the Metro Red, Purple, Gold, Blue and Green Lines, and the Metro Orange Line – operating throughout the night of Jan 1-2 to enable event-goers to get an early place along the parade route.

In addition to the overnight service on Metro rail lines the night of Jan. 1-2, Metro will run additional trains and more frequent service on the Metro Gold Line to accommodate the large numbers of anticipated riders beginning at 5 a.m. and continuing through 9 p.m., with trains running as frequently as every seven to eight minutes to and from Pasadena.

All Metro Rail lines will operate New Year’s Eve/New Years Day, Dec. 31-Jan. 1 to give New Year’s revelers a safe, car-free travel choice.  For New Year’s Eve/Day only, Metro will be providing  free rides on all Metro bus and rail lines from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. on the morning of Jan. 1.  After 2 a.m., regular fares go into effect.  Those attending parade festivities after 2 a.m. New Year’s Day can purchase a $1.50 one-way fare if only riding the Metro Gold Line or a $5 Metro Day Pass if riding more than one line.  The Day Pass allows for unlimited Metro System rides that day.  Patrons can purchase their ticket at their initial boarding station.

Metrolink is also providing service that will connect event-goers along its San Bernardino line with additional transportation options into to downtown Los Angeles Union station, where they can then board the Gold Line to Pasadena.

The first Metrolink train will depart downtown Riverside at 5:30 a.m. and San Bernardino at 6:05 a.m., arriving in Los Angeles in time for passengers to attend the Rose Parade. On Jan. 2, Metrolink is offering a 2-for-1 special that allows two people to ride for the price of one. Visit metrolinktrains.com for more information on the promotion.

Parade goers can access any of four Pasadena train stations close to the Parade route on Colorado Boulevard.  Memorial Park and Del Mar stations are about two blocks from the Parade route; the Lake and Allen stations are approximately four blocks from the Parade route.

Parking is available at several Metro Gold Line Stations, including Sierra Madre Villa, Del Mar, Fillmore, Mission, Heritage Square/Arroyo, Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park, Union Station, Indiana and Atlantic.  Additional parking is available at stations servicing other countywide rail lines as well. Visit metro.net for a list of additional park & ride lots on the Metro System.

Football fans attending the 99th Rose Bowl Game^®  Presented by VIZIO shoul take the Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station.  Upon arrival at the station, they should then walk three blocks west on Holly Street to the Parsons Corporation complex to catch the free Rose Bowl Game shuttle bus, with service starting at 10 a.m. The boarding location is on Pasadena Avenue, north of Union Street. Buses will leave continually through the game’s kick-off and first quarter.

Metro is also teaming up with the Tournament of Roses to provide easy access to view the Rose Parade floats after the parade.  Take the Metro Gold Line to the Sierra Madre Villa Station in East Pasadena.  Then board a shuttle bus from the Bus Plaza on the first level of the parking structure that provides direct service to Victory Park, where the floats will be displayed Jan. 2-3.  Shuttles will depart from Sierra Madre Villa Station until approximately 3 p.m. each day.  Return service to Sierra Madre Villa will continue to 5:30 p.m.  Shuttle hours of operation are 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 3.  On Jan. 3 from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m., only seniors and disabled will be allowed into the viewing area.

During the hours of operation the shuttle buses will pick up every five to ten minutes from the station.  Regular fares will apply.

Metro does not allow eating, drinking or smoking on board Metro trains or buses. To ensure public safety, Metro prohibits flammable products, barbecues and oversized items such as ladders, umbrellas, tents, chairs and coolers from being brought on board the Metro Bus or Rail system.  For additional information on Metro, visit metro.net. For additional information on Metrolink, visit metrolinktrains.com.