CapMetro waiving fees Tuesday night for New Year's Eve travel

AUSTIN (KXAN) — CapMetro will waive fares on all its services Tuesday evening in recognition of New Year's Eve.

Beginning at 5 p.m., the Austin transit authority will offer free bus and rail rides, as well as extend certain services in light of the holiday. CapMetro Rail service will run until 2 a.m., with the final train departing from the downtown station at 2:22 a.m.

CapMetro's bus services will run on its regularly scheduled service levels, while the Night Owls buses will operate between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Several bus detours are planned as a result of the city of Austin's fireworks show at Auditorium Shores. South First Street Bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic, and bus routes will be detoured beginning at 10:30 p.m. CapMetro has a complete list of detours outlined online.

CapMetro will run Sunday-level bus service on Wednesday due to the holiday. There won't be any CapMetro Rail, Night Owls, Express or Pickup operations on New Year's Day.

Those looking to plan their New Year's Eve commutes can use CapMetro's Trip Planner tool to outline routes, especially those with planned detours.

CapMetro's free rides are one transportation option Austinites and guests alike can use New Year's Eve. Others include rideshare services like Uber and Lyft as well as pedicabs and electric scooters in parts of Austin.

While city officials encourage those celebrating Tuesday night to avoid driving, anyone who parked in a city-owned parking space and is unable to drive home can apply for a traffic ticket waiver as part of Austin's Get Home Safe Ticket Waiver Program. The city runs the initiative year-round to help encourage responsible driving practices, with the waiver available online.

Those who legally parked in a city-own space can submit the waiver within one business day after receiving a citation. That submission must include a copy of the parking citation and proof of a safe trip home, such as a rideshare receipt marked with the date and time of the trip.

The Austin Police Department, alongside the city's Vision Zero program, also expanded its "No Refusal" initiative to a year-round effort in an effort to reduce severe and fatal crashes. As part of the No Refusal program, APD is permitted to obtain a blood search warrant during specific hours "when an arrested driver refuses to submit to a blood alcohol test," according to APD.