Transit System Offers Year-End Deals

For people thinking about attending the Rose Parade but feeling daunted by the driving and parking hassles, the MTA offers an alternative.

To encourage early parade-goers to leave their cars at home, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to keep the Gold Line as well as the rest of its rail network open all night Wednesday.

Several Metro Gold Line stations in Pasadena are within easy walking distance of the parade route, including the Memorial Park Station at 125 E. Holly St., which is two blocks away.

To discourage drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve, the MTA is offering free rides on its trains from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and on buses from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. After that, a day pass for unlimited rides throughout MTA’s network will cost $3 for adults and children, or $1.50 for the elderly and disabled.

For those heading to the Rose Bowl game, the Tournament of Roses is providing free shuttle bus service from 100 W. Walnut St. to the stadium starting at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

For riders who want to view the flower-decked floats after the parade, the MTA will run a shuttle from the Sierra Madre Villa Station to Victory Park on Thursday from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More information on schedules and routes is available by calling (800) 266-6883 or consulting the online Metro Trip Planner at www.metro.net.