Eric Richardson []

Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, chair of the Transportation committee, speaks at this morning's Late Night Red Line press conference. Other speakers included County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Council President Eric Garcetti, and Council District 14's Jessica

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — "The first gift of the holiday season is here," Councilwoman Wendy Greuel told those gathered to welcome late night Red Line service. The new service kicks off on Friday, November 21, extending close on the Red Line between Union Station and North Hollywood to 3am.

Greuel joined Council President Eric Garcetti, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Metro Chief Operations Officer Carolyn Flowers and members of the business community at the 7th / Metro Red Line station this morning to celebrate the service extension, funded by property owners and businesses along the route. It will run on Friday and Saturday nights through the end of the year.

The extension was the brainchild of Cedd Moses, who suggested the concept at a meeting of the Central City Association's Hospitality committee. Moses brought the concept to Council District 14's Jessica Wethington McLean, Executive Director of the Bringing Back Broadway effort. With organization from CD14 and the contributions of the business community, $54,000 was raised to turn the concept into a reality.

At today's press conference, multiple speakers told of how remarkable it was for the Late Night Red Line concept to pass through City Council and Metro's approval processes in such a short period of time.

Councilwoman Greuel also mentioned in her remarks that Nighttime DASH service will be launching to coincide with the Red Line extension. The DASH line will be a new route geared toward connecting visitors and residents with nighttime options. Full details will be available within the next 24 hours.

Those on the fence about taking the service were offered a little extra incentive this morning, as 213 announced that it will be offering $1 off drinks to those who show their Red Line ticket stub to the barman at Golden Gopher, Broadway Bar, Seven Grand or the soon-to-open Cole's.

After the speeches finished, the press conference took a party turn as a subway car showed up carrying Bailey, the L.A. Kings mascot, members of the Kings Ice Crew, and , an energetic pirate band sponsored by the .