Go Metro on New Year’s Eve with free fares from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

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Holiday season is always so stressful — trust me, I waited the weekend before Christmas to shop and I still have zero New Year’s plans. So let Metro relieve a little of that stress with holiday free rides to help ring in 2019! Kick off that New Year’s savings plan and get home safely on the bus or train.

On New Year’s Eve, all Metro Rail lines will run 24-hour service alongside Owl bus service. There will also be enhanced evening service for those heading out to New Year’s Eve events, and no fare will be charged from 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) until 2 a.m. Tuesday morning New Year’s Day (Jan. 1). The fare gates at all Metro Rail stations will be unlatched during this time. After 2 a.m., customers must TAP to ride.

Please note: all Metro Rail lines will operate every 10-12 minutes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. After 1 a.m., service will continue all night every 20 minutes on New Year’s Eve until 5 a.m. The Metro Orange Line will operate every 20-50 minutes between North Hollywood and Chatsworth Stations. The Metro Silver Line will operate every 20-60 minutes between El Monte and Harbor Gateway Transit Center. For updated schedules, check out our timetables .

If you’re in downtown L.A. before the ball drops, head over to Grand Park + The Music Center’s N.Y.E.L.A. You can get there easily by taking the Metro Red or Purple Line to Civic Center/Grand Park Station, or grab a Metro Bike. Please note: the Temple Street exit will be reserved for families with strollers or customers with disabilities. All others must exit using 1st Street. If you want to avoid a crowded station and don’t mind a short walk, consider using Union Station or Pershing Square Station.

If you plan to stay in the downtown area, the FlexLA ridesharing app is a great option to get you to your favorite places within downtown L.A. Just enter your destination and follow the walking directions to your designated, safe pick-up location nearby. Within minutes you’ll be driven to your drop-off location in a stylish luxury van — which happens to be operated by U.S. Veterans. If that’s not sweet enough, FlexLA is offering free rides every night for the remainder of the year from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

New Year’s Eve at the Waterfront is taking place in Long Beach. The free family-friendly event runs from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Rainbow Harbor — just a short walk from the Blue Line’s Downtown Long Beach Station. There will be plenty of entertainment including live music, jugglers, face painting, food and more. The firework show begins at 9 p.m. Blue Line trains will run every 12 minutes throughout the night. Long Beach Transit will also be offering free bus rides and it is the perfect way to continue your New Year’s.

Big Blue Bus will also be providing free rides from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. So if you plan to be in the Santa Monica area during the countdown, consider checking out any of BBB’s routes to plan your trip accordingly.

Once again, all Metro rides are free only between 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve through 2 a.m. Anyone boarding a Metro train or bus after 2 a.m. must TAP to ride. Be sure to check our holiday fares page for more information.

And if you need an extra guest at any of your New Year festivities, I’m still available. Otherwise, whatever mode of transportation you choose, have a safe and cheerful New Year!

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