Freedom to Move Act
The Freedom to Move Act would direct the Department of Transportation to create and run a five-year grant program, called Freedom to Move Grants, to support fare-free public transit. Funded at an authorized level of $5 billion per year (2026–2030), these grants would cover lost fare revenue and additional improvements to public transportation in both rural and urban areas. The program emphasizes equity by prioritizing service improvements for low-income and historically underserved communities, and it requires applicants to detail how they will redesign bus networks, engage with community stakeholders, and expand access to reliable, safe transit. Applicants—states, counties, local municipalities, transit agencies, private nonprofits in rural areas, or partnerships among these—must submit comprehensive plans addressing fare-free implementation, equity-focused bus network redesign, outreach and partnerships, an equity evaluation of transit gaps, fare evasion policies (including a plan to end criminalization), anticipated costs from increased ridership, and protections for transit workers. Grants last five years and require periodic reporting on demographics and progress toward closing equity gaps. The act also mandates a broad set of permissible uses, including safety, accessibility, signage, bus lanes, signal priority, street redesign, and network redesign, plus measures to improve livability.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a competitive grants program (Freedom to Move Grants) funded at $5 billion per year for 2026–2030 to support fare-free transit and related improvements.
- 2Requires detailed applications focused on implementing fare-free access, equity-centered bus network redesign, community engagement, and measures to reduce fare evasion and criminalization.
- 3Defines eligible recipients as states, counties, local governments, transit agencies, private nonprofits in rural areas, or partnerships among these entities.
- 4Allows grant funds to cover lost fare revenue and a wide range of transit improvements, including safety, accessibility, bus stops, signage, bus lanes, signal priority, and operational costs to handle increased ridership.
- 5Mandates reporting on demographics and progress toward closing equity gaps within three years and sets forth specific accountability and equity metrics.