LA Metro, Long Beach Transit offering free rides on New Year's Eve

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Southland revelers celebrating the arrival of the New Year will be able to enjoy free transit rides Monday evening to avoid driving while impaired.

All Metro subway and light-rail lines will run 24-hour service alongside owl bus service, and all bus and rail lines will operate free of charge from 9 p.m. Monday through 2 a.m. Tuesday, with fare gates unlocked.

Metro rail lines will operate every 10-12 minutes from 9 p.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Tuesday. After 1 a.m., trains will run every 20 minutes, with service continuing until 5 a.m. Regular fares will be charged after 2 a.m.

The Metro Orange Line will run every 20-50 minutes between the North Hollywood and Chatsworth stations. The Silver Line will operate every 20-60 minutes between El Monte and the Harbor Gateway Transit Center.

Schedules are available online at metro.net/riding/maps/owl.

Long Beach Transit also plans to offer free bus rides, beginning at 5 p.m. Monday. Its service will be extended, with routes leaving the Transit Gallery on First Street between Long Beach Boulevard and Pine Avenue as late as 2:35 a.m. Tuesday, according to spokesman Michael Gold.

No special coupon or ticket will be required for the free rides in Long Beach.

A complete list of routes and schedules is available on Long Beach Transit's website, ridelbt.com/newyear.

City News Service contributed to this report.