Avoiding surge-pricing this New Year’s Eve
There will be late-night service on BART and free rides on AC Transit, MUNI and more this New Year’s Eve
SAN FRANCISCO >> It’s New Year’s Eve, which means surge-pricing will be in full effect pretty much everywhere. Don’t want to wake up with a triple-digit bill, a totaled car or drunken driving charge? Bay Area transit agencies have you covered.
BART will be offering late-night service. MUNI, Caltrain, VTA, SamTrans and AC Transit all have free rides until dawn. And AAA’s Tipsy Tow service will get you and your car home — for free!
Here’s what you need to know to ring in 2018:
BART
The Bay Area’s regional transit system will run standard Saturday service (even though it will be Sunday) until 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve with special service starting after that running until 3 a.m. To avoid over-crowded platforms in downtown San Francisco, trains will skip certain stations. Regular fares are in effect, but the agency’s planned fare increase won’t start until 8 a.m. Monday morning. • Getting there: Pittsburg/ Bay Point and Richmond trains heading to San Francisco will not stop at Embarcadero station, but patrons can exit at Montgomery. Dublin/Pleasanton and South Fremont/Warm
Springs trains heading into San Francisco will not stop at Montgomery, so patrons must get off at Embarcadero for the annual fireworks show. The same is true for return trips. • Heading back: Dublin/Pleasanton and South Fremont/ Warm Springs trains will not stop at West Oakland. Riders must catch a San Franciscobound train from Lake Merritt to return to West Oakland if that’s their destination. If you’re headed to Millbrae and Daly City, use the Montgomery Street station.
Caltrain and SamTrans
Free rides on Caltrain and SamTrans buses begin at 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve, and last util 5 a.m. There will be more northbound trains headed to San Francisco during the early evening and extra southbound trains after the end of the fireworks show in San Francisco. Post-show trains will make all local weekend stops from San Francisco to San Jose. Trains will depart when they are full, with the final train pulling out of San Francisco around 2 a.m.
Caltrain would also like to remind passengers that open containers of alcohol
are not allowed after 9 p.m. Disrespectful drinkers will be asked to take a hike.
VTA
VTA light rail and buses will be free from 8 p.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday. The Alum Rock-Santa Teresa and Mountain View-Winchester light rail lines will have extended service on New Year’s Eve, as will the 180/181 express lines. Visit VTA.Org/ Getting-Around/New-YearsService for detailed schedule information.
MUNI
For the 18th year in a row, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is waiving fares to ring in the New Year, beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting until 5 a.m. Don’t tag your Clipper card or activate MUNImobile, or you will get charged. Just hop on board.
• There will be extra MUNI Metro service between West Portal and Embarcadero stations until 5a.m. and between West Portal and 4th & King stations until 2:15a.m.
• There will be extra owl service from 1a.m. until 5 a.m. on the following lines: 5-Fulton, 14-Mission, 22-Fillmore, 24-Divisadero, 25-Treasure Island, 38-Geary, 44-O’Shaughnessy, 48-Quintara/24th, 90-Owl, 91-Owl, L-Owl, and N-Owl • Buses will replace the historic streetcars on the F-Market & Wharves line all day and will replace cable cars after approximately 6p.m.
AC TRANSIT
East Bay bus riders will also ride for free on New Year’s Eve, beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting until 5 a.m. Don’t even bother tapping a Clipper card or inserting cash because the fare boxes won’t accept payments during those hours. Visit ACTransit. Org/Maps for schedules and real-time departures.
AAA backup
AAA encourages all revelers to designate a sober driver, but it also has a back-up for when the best laid plans get fouled. Members and nonmembers can call 1-800-AAA-HELP (that’s 1-800-222-4357) between 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 6 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Tipsy Tow provides a free, 10-mile tow and ride home. After the first 10 miles, you’ll be charged a standard towing rate. The service does not include roadside assistance.