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Know Before You Go, Get Home Safe

Release Date: May. 05, 2014

** Headed to ACL Fest? Make sure you plan your sober ride to and from the festival before you leave home. Click here for an informational flier with options for festival goers. **

 

Plan Ahead – The best and most responsible thing to do to keep yourself and others safe is to plan ahead before heading out for a night.  Volunteer to be the designated, sober driver; give your keys to a responsible friend who will be your designated driver.  Plan when to use one of the below listed sources.  Driving buzzed is the same as driving drunk.

The Austin Transportation Department encourages Austinites and visitors to know how they are going to get home before they leave the house for a night on the town, so they can get home safe. From leaving your car downtown to transportation options, here are some resources to help you get home safe:

Bus-Capital Metro

  • Night Owl
    Capital Metro’s Night Owl bus routes run from midnight to 3 a.m. with service from the 6th street entertainment district to the City's most popular late night destinations.  One dollar gets you onboard and $2 will get you 24 hours of unlimited rides. UT students ride free with valid school ID and ACC students ride with the Green Pass. 
  • E-bus
    The E-Bus is a late night service that picks up passengers from UT, west campus, and Riverside areas and provides a safe alternative to driving to and from Austin's entertainment district during weekend evenings (Thursday - Saturday from 8:30 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.). UT students, faculty, and staff may ride the E-Bus at no charge.  If you are not a UT student, you may ride the E-Bus by paying a $1 fare. It is recommended you purchase a round-trip day pass for $2 upon boarding.
     
  • View Capital Metro's full schedule and service maps online here.  Capital Metro also offers a Guaranteed Ride Home Program.  The program is based on an annual membership, where members can rely on Capital Metro for a guaranteed ride home if they have an emergency that causes the member to miss their bus or train.  Learn more here: Guaranteed Ride Home Program.

Designated Driving Services

Electric Low Speed Vehicles

Limos/Charter Services (there are many- click to view full list)

Park Downtown Overnight
The City has more than 3,000 parking spaces on the street in Downtown Austin (IH-35 to Lamar Boulevard, and Lady Bird Lake to 10th Street) where people can leave their cars parked overnight.  The parking meters in Downtown Austin have yellow “Next Day” buttons that allow people to buy meter time for the next day. What happens if you forget to buy time for the next day and leave your car overnight?  The Austin Transportation Department does not tow vehicles. If you get a parking ticket but made the responsible decision of taking a taxi or bus home, we’ll waive the ticket! Bring your ticket and taxi or bus receipt in with a completed Ticket Waiver Form (click to open).  Remember, meters are not enforced on Sundays.

The City's Transportation team coordinated with our Downtown parking management groups (both private and public) to provide you this map of overnight parking options. 

I-35 Parking Lot
Austin residents and visitors have another weekend overnight parking option in the parking lot under I-35 between 6th and 8th Streets. Parking meters at the I-35 lot are enforced Monday through Saturday, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.  Parking is $7 a night Monday through Thursday and $8 a night Friday and Saturday.  Parking is free on Sunday. Cars that are left in the lot 3 to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday morning can be towed in order to conduct routine cleaning.  

6th Street Parking
*There is no parking on 6th Street between Red River and Brazos Streets between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., Thursday through Sunday.  The Austin Police Department will tow vehicles from this area. Read more here.

Pedicabs (there are many- click to view full list) 

Taxis

Transportation Network Companies (TNCs)

Phone a friend or designate a sober driver before going out.

Remember, the best and responsible thing you can do to keep yourself and others safe is to plan ahead before heading out for the night. 

Do you know of another resource that should be added to this list? If so, click here to email the Austin Transportation team.

This website is not an endorsement on behalf of the listed companies, but a resource for visitors.

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Communications and Public Information Office 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701