Carol Comegno | The Courier-Post

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CAMDEN - Don't drive on New Year’s Eve if you are traveling somewhere near a PATCO train station in South Jersey or Philly.

Fares on New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day will be free again this year, Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO Hi-Speedline officials announced Monday.

Passengers will ride free from 8 p.m. Dec. 31 until 4 a.m. Jan. 1.

DRPA CEO John Hanson said the free ride program is an effort to make it easier for people to go into Philly or perhaps go to Westmont, Collingswood or Haddonfield, which also have New Year’s Eve parties.

”We don’t want to promote drinking and driving, so the safest way is to take the train,” said DRPA chairman Ryan Boyer.

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PATCO does not have a complete count of the number of passengers who took free rides last year because the fare gates were opened.

“Anecdotally, the trains were crowded and the feedback from the public was positive,” Hanson said.



DRPA vice chairman Jeffrey Nash reinforced those comments, saying when he rode PATCO to Philadelphia last New Year’s Eve for a concert and fireworks the trains were "packed."

The New Year’s schedule will include more service on New Year’s Eve and on New Year’s Day for the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.

For the latest schedule and fare information visit http://www.ridepatco.org/ or on twitter @RidePatco

Carol Comegno: @carolcomegno; 856-486-2473; ccomegno@gannettnj.com