Metro partnering with Lyft to help late-night commuters

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) -- Metro is partnering with Lyft in an effort to help late-night commuters.

The system has been shutting down early for more than two years now, so crews can continue to make necessary repairs and safety upgrades.

It's been taking a toll on people who would typically use Metro after hours, so the transit agency says it will now offer three dollar subsidies for Lyft rides for up to 10 trips per week to people who qualify.

Many bartenders and food servers tell FOX 5 they used to rush to make the last train at 3 a.m. on weekends, but for the past two years, that's been pushed all the way back to 1 a.m., and in February, the board voted to extend the early closures for another year.

Mark Lee is an advocate for bar and restaurant workers. He says they're the largest workforce in D.C. outside of federal employees and the lack of late-night Metro service has been a major hardship.

Another bit of news that has the bar and restaurant industry reeling -- Councilmember Mary Cheh just proposed new legislation on electric scooters that calls for banning the use of them between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m, which would slash yet another popular means of transportation for late-shift workers.

"The proposal for no scooter is even greater hardship bc it's a popular means of transportation," said Lee. "After a long shift of dealing with the public, it's a great way to just calm down, get home… get home safe and get home inexpensively."