TransLink offers free fare throughout Metro Vancouver for NYE

There’s a million reasons why you should never drink and drive — here’s one more.

TransLink is once again offering its free and extended New Year’s Eve service on buses, SkyTrains and the SeaBus throughout Metro Vancouver.

Spokesperson Thor Diakow says buses will be free and running from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m.

“During these hours, fare gates at SkyTrain and SeaBus stations will remain open. Customers will not be required to tap their compass cards or use other payment methods,” Diakow explained.

“We’ll have some extended weekday schedules in place for transit services. That includes buses — we’ll have up to 52 additional buses throughout the system and extra service on some select routes. The SkyTrain will be extended, as well, into the early morning hours. And the SeaBus will be running an extended weekday schedule with some extra frequencies until the last sailing [Tuesday] night.”

The last SkyTrains will depart Waterfront Station around 2:15 a.m., while the last SeaBuses will leave after 1:20 a.m.

Additionally, Diakow says, TransLink is offering a night bus that will continue operating after SkyTrains, with service to “key routes in North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody — all over the region.”

ICBC says there are nearly 600 crashes every New Year’s Eve on average — with most taking place in the Lower Mainland.

Diakow says operators will keep an eye on high-traffic areas to provide additional service if necessary.

“We want to make sure everyone has access to transit tonight and that they get home safely,” said Diakow.