TriMet will once again offer fare-free transportation for revelers heading out to celebrate the end of the year and will help get them home safe, thanks to sponsorship from Oregonians Credit Union. Starting at 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, all MAX and bus trips are free until service ends early on New Year’s Day. For those outside the public transportation service area, the City of Portland has partnered with Uber and Lyft to offer discounted rides home.
For decades, TriMet has offered free rides to help people get home safely after ringing in the new year. This program removes the cost barrier to transit and extends service into the early hours of 2026 with more frequent trips. Most MAX lines run late until around 2 a.m. The MAX Blue, Green, Orange, and Yellow lines will run approximately every 30 minutes. MAX Red Line trains will operate on a weekday schedule, with the last westbound train leaving the Portland International Airport at 12:27 a.m. and the last eastbound train leaving the Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds Station at 10:31 p.m. Some MAX lines have later service, but riders traveling near the MAX line may also take the late-night/early-morning bus service along MAX lines. The buses do not run through the night, but they will provide some extra service on New Year’s Eve. TriMet buses will run on Sunday schedules for New Year’s Day. TriMet will not operate the WES Commuter Rail on January 1st and will close its call center and the Customer Support Center at Pioneer Courthouse Square. TriMet will require fare payment after 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
- 🔵 MAX Blue Line: The last westbound train will depart the Cleveland Ave MAX Station at 1:58 a.m., and the last eastbound train will leave the Hatfield Government Center MAX Station for Portland City Center and Gresham at 1:32 a.m.
- 🟢 MAX Green Line: The last westbound train will depart the Clackamas Town Center Transit Center MAX Station to Portland City Center at 1:42 a.m., and the last eastbound MAX Green Line train will leave the Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave MAX Station toward Clackamas Town Center at 1:47 a.m.
- 🟠 MAX Orange Line: The last northbound train will depart the SE Park Ave MAX Station at 2:55 a.m., and the last southbound MAX Orange Line train will leave the Pioneer Place/SW 5th Ave MAX Station at 2:02 a.m.
- 🟡 MAX Yellow Line: The last northbound MAX Yellow Line train will depart the Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave MAX Station at 2:25 a.m., and the last southbound train will leave the Expo Center MAX Station to Portland City Center at 1:32 a.m.
- 🔴 Please note that MAX Red Line will operate on regular schedules, with the last westbound train leaving the Portland International Airport MAX Station at 12:27 a.m., and the last eastbound MAX Red Line train leaving the Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds MAX Station at 10:31 p.m.
If you miss your bus or train and need a ride, the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Safe Ride Home program offers discounts to help. Starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, people can use a discount code posted on the program’s website and posted flyers to save $10 on an Uber or Lyft ride originating within the City of Portland. Discounted rides are not valid if started after 4 a.m. Thursday, January 1st, 2025.
Revelers looking for the taxi ride discount are out of luck. Broadway Cab, Flat Cab, PDX Yellow Cab, and Radio Cab will be working that night, getting people home safely, but are not partnering to offer discounted rides like they did in previous years. People have many ways to celebrate the new year without driving, and it is best to have a plan to get home. However, if that plan falls apart, know your options and never drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver.
Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.