December 24: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

1995:  The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority launches free bus and rail service between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.  Approximately 15,000 riders take advantage of transit on Christmas Eve, and 19,000 on New Year’s Eve.

Los Angeles Transit Line’s holiday candy cane car, 1947. (Click for more information)

In December 1994, the Metro Board had authorized staff to implement a 25-cent Holiday Celebration Fare on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve on buses to be implemented on an experimental basis.  By the following year, the Board moved to make buses free, with the addition of rail, on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

More information can be found in the January, 1996 issue of Metro’s MTA Review employee news magazine and the February 12, 1996 report to the Board of Directors which evaluates the Holiday Celebration Free Fare Promotion.  Background on the 1994 25-cent Holiday Celebration Fare can be found in December 13, 2004 Board of Directors communication.