Free Rides back for New Year's Eve, thanks to Miller Lite, MCTS & Waukesha Metro Transit

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Miller Lite is teaming up with Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) and Waukesha Metro Transit to bring Free Rides back to Milwaukee and Waukesha for New Year’s Eve.

Ted Elton is no stranger to working New Year's Eve as he'll be serving up drinks at Mo's Irish Pub, but he feels comforted that MCTS and Miller Lite are providing this service to the community.

"We want to foster a relaxed atmosphere for people to have fun and enjoy themselves but we also want to make sure they they're making it home alright," said Elton.

More than 30 routes will be in operation, 13 of them running until 4am.

To avoid standing in the bitter cold, this year MCTS allows you to see the real time status of your bus.

"You can check online and find out what time they are actually arriving in real time so you don't have to wait out at the bus stop," said MCTS Spokesperson Jacqueline Janz.

With the support of Beer Capitol Distributing, free service will be provided on Wednesday, December 31st, on all MCTS bus routes beginning at 8:00 p.m. and Waukesha Metro routes beginning at 7:00 p.m. Detailed route and schedule information is available online or by calling 1-800-FREE-RIDES (1-800-373-3743) or texting “FREE RIDES” to 90464.

CLICK HERE to view a map that shows 13 routes that have service until 4:00 am on New Year’s Eve 2014: Routes GreenLine, RedLine, 10, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 30 and 80. Some routes are shortened after regular hours. MCTS Rt. 10 runs between Downtown Milwaukee and Brookfield Square until 3:00 am. Route 10 connects with Waukesha Metro Route 1, which runs until 1:05 am. For more information on the shortened routing call 414-937-0460.

Since its inception in 1987, Miller Lite Free Rides has provided a safe ride to more than 500,000 people in Milwaukee and Waukesha, and more than 4.4 million people nationwide. The program enjoys the full support of state and local law enforcement.