By Amy Deis

Thursday, 29 December 2011

Through a partnership with the Austin Police Department, Capital Metro is offering free rides on New Year’s Eve to discourage people from driving home after drinking.

Capital Metro’s six Night Owl buses, which stop at the intersection of Sixth Street and Congress Avenue, will operate from midnight to 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The buses will run every 30 to 60 minutes to destinations including the intersections of North Lamar and Braker Lane, William Cannon and Machaca Road and Oltorf Street and Burton Drive, among others.

This is the first time the transit authority has partnered with the police to provide a free alternative to driving for New Year’s Eve. The idea stemmed from President and CEO Linda Watson, who said riding Capital Metro is a safe alternative to driving for people who have been drinking.

“We hope that by making the late-night service free, more Austinites will enjoy a safe and hassle-free ride home,” she said.

The two departments will split the $5,000 it costs to fund the service.

Maps of the routes are available at www.capmetro.org/newyearseve.

Families may also ride Capital Metro’s buses to and from the City of Austin’s New Year’s Eve celebration at Auditorium Shores. Routes 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 stop near the event.