San Francisco is always filled with numerous New Year’s celebrations, from fireworks to major concerts to early morning polar plunges; there’s plenty going on in the city. Due to the major holiday, San Franciscans can expect some changes to public transportation on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Free transit on New Year’s Eve
To encourage safe travel through the city on New Year’s Eve, SFMTA will offer free service from 8 pm to 5 am. If you take muni between those hours, you do not need to tap your Clipper card, and the rides are complimentary. Just be sure you don’t accidentally tap your Clipper card, as you will be automatically charged. Caltrain will also be free after 8 pm for riders, along with SamTrans.
Holiday schedule
Muni will operate on a Sunday schedule for both December 31 and January 1. Sunday schedules are typically less frequent, although you can still expect a bus approximately every 10 to 20 minutes. You can see the weekend schedule for routes here.
The late-night OWL Network service will operate every 15 to 30 minutes from midnight to 2 am, which includes 10 major routes around the city. You can also expect additional Caltrain service between San Francisco and San Jose, with extra trains departing from SF at 1 am, 1:30 am, and 2 am.
Street Closures
Due to major holiday events, some streets will be closed in the coming days. Pier 80 is hosting a concert series, which features popular EDM artists like Swedish House Mafia, Four Tet, Skrillex, John Summit, and more between December 30 and January 1. To facilitate the massive concerts, a few streets and intersections around Pier 80 will be closed, including:
- Marin Street between 3rd Street and Easterly Terminus
- 25th Street between 3rd and Michigan streets (Muni only)
- Illinois Street between Cargo Way/Amador Street and 23rd Street
- Michigan Street between Marin and Cesar Chavez streets
- Intersections closed:
- Marin Street at Illinois Street
- Marin Street at Michigan Street
- Illinois Street at 24th Street
- Illinois Street at 25th streets
You can find more information on the holiday hours and routes for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in San Francisco here.