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 Saturday schedule on Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve. A Sunday schedule will be in effect on Sunday, January 1 – New Year’s Day, as well as on Monday, January 2, when the New Year will be nationally observed.
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. Saturday, December 31 until 4 a.m. Sunday, January 1. For the last five years, MillerCoors’ Miller Lite has sponsored the popular program as part of an agreement with the CTA.
“We at CTA are happy to provide our customers with free, safe and reliable transportation this New Year’s Eve,” said CTA President Dorval Carter, Jr. “We wish everyone a very happy new year and encourage revelers to leave their keys at home and let 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 pay 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. Last New Year’s Eve, CTA provided more than 113,000 rides between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
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