HOLIDAY SAFETY: Metro, other transit agencies going fare-free on New Year’s Eve

Looking ahead to New Year’s Eve, one week from Wednesday, Metro and various other transit agencies/services are going fare-free. Here’s the announcement:

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their holiday celebrations.

“Leaving the driving to us is becoming as great a New Year’s tradition as celebrating at the Space Needle,” said Executive Zahilay. “No matter where you plan to ring in the new year, you have access to free transit options to get you there!”

Regional transit agencies will operate on specific schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve and riders are encouraged to check times beforehand.

The free Metro rides will continue until 3 am New Year’s morning. Details are here, including information on this week’s transit schedules too (as noted in our morning traffic roundup, Metro is on a Sunday schedule for Christmas Day and the Water Taxi won’t run that day).

6 Replies to "HOLIDAY SAFETY: Metro, other transit agencies going fare-free on New Year's Eve"

  • Mellow Kitty December 23, 2025 (6:42 am)

    Between this and Uber, there’s zero excuses for driving drunk on New Year’s Eve. Zero tolerance for drunk drivers. 

    • IDC9 December 25, 2025 (6:56 pm)

      Indeed! With plenty of good alternatives at different price points, there is no reason whatsoever for anyone to drive drunk. May New Years Eve and Day be safe and sound for all!

  • SLJ December 23, 2025 (8:52 am)

    What a great service! Thanks Metro and King County.

  • k December 23, 2025 (5:03 pm)

    Thank you King County Metro!  Hope they expand this program to 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Lent, Summer, and most Mondays-Saturdays!

    • Charles Burlingame December 23, 2025 (5:51 pm)

      What you are advocating is cuts to bus service.

    • IDC9 December 25, 2025 (7:03 pm)

      King County should follow the leads of Thurston County and Grays Harbor County and make the buses free all day, every day. Property and/or sales taxes might have to rise to make up for the loss of funding that would occur. However, everyone would benefit from making the shift to fare free busses. Drivers would be at less risk of violence since there would be no conflicts with riders over fares. Riders would save time as boarding would go faster (no need for everyone to stop and pay). More people would be able to afford to ride the busses, meaning fewer cars would be on the road, benefiting those who must drive. And everyone would benefit from having less pollution resulting from cars.

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