Metro Rides Free After Midnight on New Year’s

WASHINGTON, DC — Die-hard partiers rejoice: Metro will stay open until 3 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, after the ball drops this New Year’s Eve, and all rides on Metrorail and Metrobus will be free after midnight, according to a news release from WMATA. The free fare, offered through the Miller Lite Free Rides program, will be offered on all Metrorail trips, regardless of distance, when using a SmarTrip card.

Riders must still tap their SmarTrip card to enter and exit the Metrorail system, but trips originating after midnight will not cost you anything. On Metrobus, riders should simply show their SmarTrip card to the bus operator to ride for free after midnight.

The system will reopen at 7 a.m. on New Year's Day and run on a regular Sunday schedule, as will Metrobus. Both Metrorail and Metrobus will run on a Sunday schedule on Monday, Jan. 2, for the New Year's Day holiday.

Off-peak fares will be in effect and parking will be free at Metro facilities. There will be scheduled track work from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and from 8 p.m. until closing on Monday, Jan. 2, for the Red, Orange, Silver and Blue lines.

Miller Lite Free Rides will reimburse Metro for the cost of all trips taken from midnight until the system closes.

Additional Metro Transit Police officers will be on duty on New Year's Eve to help ensure a safe trip for all riders.

»Image via WMATA