As you probably know, Metro is allowing everyone to ride the light rail for free from the day of the Grand Opening celebrations through New Year's Eve. People are encouraged to come experience the system, learn how to ride and how light rail can be integrated into their schedules.
METRO light rail will offer five free-ride days from Dec. 27 – 31, 2008. New Year’s Eve hours have now been announced as running the last trip at 2 a.m.
Below are the hours of free-ride service each day:
Saturday, Dec. 27 – 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; station celebrations will occur from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 28 – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 29 – Tuesday, Dec. 30 Regular service hours (4 a.m. – midnight with the first full trip, across all 20 miles, occurring at 4:40 a.m. and the last full trip at 11 p.m.)
Wednesday, Dec. 31 – Regular service hours will begin the day; however, METRO will stay open late to support New Year’s Eve patrons offering the last full trip, across all 20 miles, at 2 a.m. from either end.
Thursday, January 1st, 2009 Metro will begin charging normal fares for light rail and bus rides and will resume the normal schedule of Regular service hours beginning at 4 a.m. – midnight with the first full trip, across all 20 miles, occurring at 4:40 a.m. and the last full trip at 11 p.m arriving at the end of the line at midnight.
During the week, trains arrive every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m – all other times, trains arrive every 20 minutes. On weekends and holidays, the first trip of the day is 5 a.m. and ends the same as week days. (midnight) The frequency of trips changes to every 15 minutes between 6 a.m and 7 p.m- all other times, trains arrive every 20 minutes. Metro operates 365 days a year. For special events, trains may operate more frequently and for longer hours. They have a really cool monitoring system where they can adjust the number of trains necessary by watching the stations from a "command center."
Take the opportunity to look at and familiarize yourself with the fare vending machines during this first week. Metro will also have "Ambassador's" available at stations during grand opening and into the first part of the year to help people with with questions.
Rail Life will be riding a LOT so that we can get more familiar with the system and the neighborhoods. We hope to see you on the line!
Leave a Reply