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Options for getting around safely on New Year's Eve

After plenty of New Year's cheer, driving is not an option, and not everyone can walk to and from their destination.

Three designated driving companies, CarGozz,  BeMyDD and Uber will drive for you, for a price, of course.  The website drinkinganddriving.org has a national directory of designated driver services as well.

Because of the big fireworks show at the Space Needle, there will be extended monorail service.

In Pierce County, drivers who drink to celebrate the new year at bars can get a free tow home through New Year's Day, the News Tribune reported.  There's no central phone number for the program, called Holiday Tow and Go. Drivers can simply ask a bartender to call one of the participating companies for a tow.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord hosts two programs for military ID cardholders. The first program is Airmen Against Drunk Driving. AADD offers free rides home within a 30-mile radius of McChord Field, 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., and can be reached at (253) 982-2233. The second program is Better Opportunities for Single Service Members (BOSS), which offers a ride home from the clubs on-base from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The BOSS phone number is (253) 208-9169.

Public transit is of course another popular option, but unfortunately, many buses are running on holiday schedules and are not offering special late services.  Be sure to check schedules ahead.  Sound Transit is offering extended light rail service.

Holiday schedules:

Sound Transit   TheTacoma link is open late for Tacoma's First Night celebration.  The last train leaves Theater District at 1:12 a.m.  The Central link will have extended hours as well.

  • The last southbound trip leaves Westlake at 1:13 a.m. and arrives at the airport by 1:53 a.m.
  • The last northbound trip leaves SeaTac at 12:20 a.m. and arrives at Westlake by 12:58 a.m.

Pierce Transit  Pierce Transit will have detours in place for First Night.  See which routes are affected.

Intercity Transit in Olympia

Washington State Ferries are now on the winter schedule.

It's a big night for taxi drivers, but there can be an hours-long wait.    In downtown Seattle, late-night taxi cab signs will tell you where cabs will be.     There are stands in Belltown, Capitol Hill, Pike Place Market, Fremont and Pioneer Square.

Tacoma also has a Karaoke taxi --- for three or more people --- that's run through the Aloha Cab Company.

The easiest way is of course to make someone in your group a designated driver for the night.

Have a happy and safe New Year!