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There’s plenty of free transportation options this New Year’s in Alexandria

By James Cullum
First Night Alexandria (photo via First Night Alexandria/Facebook)

Put the car keys away, because there’s a number of free transportation options for partiers this New Year’s Eve in Alexandria.

Metro trains and buses throughout the region are operating fare-free from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Also, Alexandria’s DASH bus system is free, and all routes are operating on their regular weekday service, and the King Street Trolley from the King St.-Old Town Metro station down King Street to City Hall is free and open until 11 p.m.

The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) annual Soberride program goes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., allowing free rides to folks who download Lyft on their phones. More than 800 people took advantage of these services last New Year’s Eve, according to WRAP.

“Well over a third of all U.S. traffic fatalities during New Year’s in 2022 involved drunk drivers according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said WRAP President Kurt Erickson.

According to WRAP:

During this six-hour period, area residents ages 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download the Lyft app to their phones then enter the SoberRide® code in the app’s ‘Payment’ tab (under the ‘Add Lyft Pass’ option) to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. WRAP’s latest 2024 Holiday SoberRide® promo code will be posted at 9:00 p.m. on December 31st on www.SoberRide.com.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.