Free rides available on all CTA trains and buses this New Year’s Eve from 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.; additional service provided on heavily traveled bus and rail routes
NOTE: All CTA bus and rail service will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve. A Sunday/Holiday schedule will be in effect on Friday, January 1 – New Year’s Day.
The Chicago Transit Authority is encouraging people heading out to celebrate the New Year to take advantage of free rides on all buses and trains beginning 10 p.m. Thursday, December 31 until 4 a.m. Friday, January 1. For the last four years, MillerCoors’ Miller Lite has sponsored the popular program as part of an agreement with the CTA.
“Continuing an important New Year’s Eve tradition in Chicago, we’re pleased to provide our city with safe, reliable and free transportation on New Year’s Eve,” said CTA President Dorval Carter, Jr. “The program encourages people to leave their keys at home and let the CTA be their designated driver.”
In addition to the free rides, CTA is also offering extended hours of operation and/or increasing the frequency of service on several bus and rail routes, making CTA an even more convenient, safe and affordable travel alternative for those out celebrating the New Year.
The CTA reminds customers that it is not necessary to touch their fare or personal bankcards at rail station turnstiles or to board buses during the free-ride period. Signs will be posted reminding customers of the free ride period on bus fareboxes. Ventra readers at rail stations will be turned off and will not read any cards during the promotion. As in past years, no refunds will be issued if customers elect to touch their fare card or other form of payment on fare-card readers during the free-ride period.
As part of the sponsorship, Miller Lite covers the cost of all rides taken, plus the operating costs to run CTA service during the hours in which the promotion is offered. Each year, an average 150,000 CTA bus and train rides are taken on New Year’s Eve.
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