Transportation Options

Last year, several transportation options made getting to FHNY easy. Check back here for transportation information regarding the Dec. 31, 2018 event.

Last year's transportation options included:

Getting to downtown Columbia, SC from out of town for NYE weekend? Here are some driving directions from nearby big cities.

The COMET Bus Routes - $3 unlimited

It’s New Year’s Eve. Park your car and leave the driving to us! We’ll get you there safe and sound and return you at your convenience to your car without the hassles of traffic and parking. See below for bus routes that will be running during FHNY and download The COMET app to track your bus route in real time.  

For just $3, you will be able to take unlimited rides on The COMET buses to and from FHNY. Buses will be operating beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 31, with the last pickup at 1:30 a.m. January 1 at Sumter St. and Lady St. 

How to get your $3 unlimited COMET bus pass:

  • On your first bus of the day, you can purchase a pass. Note: cash only is accepted on the bus!
  • On the Catch The COMET smartphone app here.
  • At the main downtown Transit Center at the corner of Sumter and Laurel Streets. Cash, checks and major credit/debit cards are accepted there.

We're expecting thousands (including you) to join us in downtown Columbia for Famously Hot New Year. Downtown Columbia will have plenty of parking in our garages, but there is no annual event as large as #FHNY. Take the less stressful route to the street party of the year and hop on The COMET. 

The bus will run 14 routes across the Midlands beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 31, with the last pickup at 1:30 a.m. January 1. The COMET leaves Sumter St. and Lady St. at the bottom of the hour – on the 30 minutes. Use the app to see when it's coming to your closest bus stop.

Check what time each bus route will pick you up by following the link for each route listed below. Download The COMET app to track your bus in real time and for more specific, accurate timing. Routes include:

101 -     North Main
201 -     Rosewood
401 -     Devine (stops near Whole Foods on Crowson)
45   -     Leesburg-Hazlewood
601 -    Shop Road/Olympia Area
301  -   Farrow Road
42   -     Millwood Avenue
6 -         Eau Claire
15 -       Forest Acres/Decker
16 -       Two Notch
34 -       St. Andrews/Bower Parkway/Harbison
34B       Bush River Rd (to St. Andrews)
55X -     Sandhills
11 -       Fairfield Road

Note: While all normal stops will be visited, The COMET will not come to a stop unless there are guests waiting.

Not near one of these bus routes? Check out these park-and-ride locations below.

Park-and-Ride Locations with The COMET - $3 all day

For just $3, you will be able to ride any of The COMET buses to and from FHNY. Buses will be operating beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 31, with the last pickup at 1:30 a.m. January 1 at Sumter St. and Lady St. 

How to get your $3 unlimited COMET bus pass:

  • On your first bus of the day, you can purchase a pass. Note: cash only is accepted on the bus!
  • On the Catch The COMET smartphone app here.
  • At the main downtown Transit Center at the corner of Sumter and Laurel Streets. Cash, checks and major credit/debit cards are accepted there.

Park-and-ride locations are stops on the bus route listed below. Download The COMET app to track each bus in real time. 

Park-and-ride locations include:

Harbison Area: Near the Harbison Walmart parking lot near Sam’s Club gas station; Follow bus route 34 to track 
Northeast Columbia: Village at Sandhill near Fashion Drive; Follow bus route 55X, Sandhills to track
Two Notch Road: Columbia Place Road near Faust Avenue; Follow bus route 16, Two Notch to track
Forest Drive: Park at Trenholm Plaza, board across the street near the Forest Acres clock; Follow bus route 15, Forest Acres/Decker to track

Alert Cab Discounts

It's NYE. Have a good time, but be responsible. If you've had a few drinks, leave your car behind and let us get you home safely.

KW Beverage, a locally owned and operated beer distributer, and Checker Yellow Cab have once again partnered to offer a safe, free ride from the event. Through the “Alert Cab” Free Ride Home Program, individuals can get home safely by receiving $10 off their ride home with Checker Yellow Cab. The designated area for cab service is on Lady St. at the corner of Sumter St. Please call 803-799-3311 and let them know that you're an Alert Cab rider. Please note that some restrictions may apply. 

Parking Garages

Public parking is complimentary at all City of Columbia downtown parking deck facilities from Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 at 3 a.m. (late Sunday night) until Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2018 at 3:00 a.m. (late Tuesday night.)

Citywide on-street meter operations will also be complimentary on Tuesday Jan. 1, 2018. 

Guests are encouraged to take a safe ride home via special COMET bus service, Alert Cab sponsored by Budweiser and KW Beverage, or other means and may leave their vehicles overnight in the above mentioned City of Columbia garages for pickup on New Year’s Day.

Plan to bring cash for parking at other City of Columbia garages. 

Famously Hot New Year takes place on the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Main St., between Gervais St. and Washington St. and extends to the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Gervais St. between Assembly and Sumter St. and the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Lady St.

City of Columbia parking garages include the following:

 

Street Closures

Driving to FHNY? Be sure to note the following before you head downtown so you don't get caught up by a street closure. Here is a list of street closures:

Sunday, Dec. 30 Closures

8:00 a.m.

  • 1200 block of Gervais St., between Main St. and Sumter St., closes

Monday, Dec. 31 Closures

7:00 a.m.

  • 1100 and 1200 blocks of Gervais St., between Assembly St. and Sumter St., close
  • Half block area of 1200 block of Main St., south of the entrance to the NBSC parking garage, closes

9:00 a.m.

  • 900 block of South Main St., from Pendleton St. to College St., closes

4:00 p.m.

  • Remainder of 1200 block of Main St., between Lady St. and Gervais St., closes

11:30 p.m.

  • 1100 and 1200 blocks of Pendleton St. close

Tuesday, Jan. 1 Reopenings

12:30 a.m.

  • 1100 and 1200 blocks of Pendleton St. reopen

2:00 a.m.

  • 900 block of South Main St., from Pendleton St. to College St., reopens

8:00 a.m.

  • 1200 block of Main St., between Lady St. and Gervais St., reopens

9:00 a.m.

  • 1200 block of Gervais St., between Main St. and Sumter St., reopens
  • 1100 and 1200 blocks of Gervais St., between Assembly St. and Sumter St., reopen
  • Half block area of 1200 block of Main St., south of the entrance to the NBSC parking garage, reopens

About The COMET:

The COMET is our fabulous regional transit system which has extended its operating hours for transporting Famously Hot New Year attendees. They will operate routes and pick up and drop off at park-and-ride lots throughout the Midlands the night of the event. Want to know more about The COMET transit system? Check out their website. Even better, download their app and track your bus route in real time!