King County Metro and regional transit agencies to help riders celebrate with free fares on New Year’s Eve
Regional transit agencies will operate on the following schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve rides.
New Year’s Eve Service
King County Metro: Buses will operate on their weekday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve), 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. Tuesday, Dec. 31, to 3 a.m. Wednesday, 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 fare-free on New Year’s Eve with weekday service hours. The South Lake Union Streetcar will operate until 12:30 a.m. to accommodate fireworks viewing downtown.
The Seattle Center Monorailwill collect its regularfare 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, and
Everett Transit will not operate on New Year’s Day.
Heroism by King County Metro bus operators
Two King County Metro bus operators helped lead to the arrest of the suspect in the murder of Metro Transit Operator Shawn Yim on December 18.
While driving a northbound RapidRide E Line bus on the morning of December 21, Metro bus operator Anthony “A.J.” Ross observed a passenger onboard with some similarities to the suspect, whom Ross had driven a number of times prior to Wednesday’s murder. However, there were differences between the passenger and the police description. After the trip terminated at Aurora Village Transit Center along with Ross’s shift, Ross dropped his bus off at North Base and returned immediately in his personal vehicle.
After Ross saw the same rider change into shoes matching the police description, Ross immediately called the King County Sherriff’s Office. The suspect then boarded another bus headed southbound. However, Ross was able to provide an updated description of the suspect and to assist police in narrowing down the bus that the suspect was likely to be riding.
Southbound RapidRide E Line bus operator Timmothy Nelson says he received a call from Transit Control Center Coordinator David Nguyen asking him whether a passenger meeting the description was aboard. Nelson was able to confirm that the passenger was onboard and then flagged down Seattle Police Department officers. The officers boarded Nelson’s bus at Third Avenue and Main Street in downtown Seattle. The suspect was apprehended without incident, and was identified by the Seattle Police Department and Metro Transit Police.
Nelson knew Yim and regularly rode on Yim’s bus to get to work each day. Nelson remembers Yim as kind and thoughtful.
King County Metro extends its profound appreciation to Anthony “A.J.” Ross, Timmothy Nelson, David Nguyen, Metro Service Quality supervisors, Metro Transit Police officers and Seattle Police Department officers. The family of Shawn Yim similarly share their thanks for the arrest of the suspect.
King County Metro celebrates Streetcar Employee of the Year Mike Nicolay
Mike Nicolay was named as the King County Metro’s Streetcar Employee of the Year.
“Mike Nicolay is the heart and soul of Streetcar for his behind-the-scenes administrative support of all employees across Streetcar and plays a critical role in keeping Streetcar running smoothly,” said Jeremy Valenta, Streetcar Director. “Mike is known by his co-workers to be genuinely kind, helpful, hard-working, responsible and reliable.
Nicolay is one of the original founding members of the Streetcar team, serving since 2008. He was celebrated with the award at the First Hill Streetcar base in a recent ceremony attended by team members and Metro senior leaders.
The Streetcar offers a distinctive way to explore Seattle. The Streetcar travels on fixed tracks and provides a scenic, smooth ride through iconic neighborhoods that include Capitol Hill, South Lake Union and the International District.
As our region continues to expand, the public demand for multiple forms of reliable, efficient and sustainable public transportation also grows. Such a system would not be possible without the workers who keep it moving, transit colleagues said.
Smooth sailing: 15 years of the King County Water Taxi
Over 15 years, the King County Water Taxi system has grown to become a vital part of the regional transportation system.
“Through the years, the water taxi has become a vital link not only for Vashon and West Seattle, but for communities throughout King County,” said Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “Riders know they can avoid traffic, keep the car at home and leave the ‘sailing’ to us for lunch in the West Seattle Junction or for a day bike trip on Vashon.”
Happy Anniversary to our Water Taxi—and smooth sailing for her!
Read the whole story and take a trip down memory lane at the Metro Matters blog.
Metro is hiring transit operators (bus drivers) and trades professionals to keep the region moving. Visit kingcounty.gov/MetroCareers to learn more.
