Freedom to Move Act
Summary
The Freedom to Move Act aims to establish a grant program, managed by the Secretary of Transportation, to support state, county, and local efforts in providing fare-free public transit services. The grants, known as "Freedom to Move Grants", will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible entities. These funds are intended to cover lost fare revenue and improve public transportation systems.
Eligible entities include state, county, or local municipalities, transit agencies, private nonprofit organizations engaged in public transportation in rural areas, or partnerships between these entities. The Act also outlines specific definitions for terms like "foster care youth," "low-income individuals," and "underserved community" to target the program's benefits effectively.
The Act authorizes appropriations of $5,000,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out the grant program. It also requires the Secretary to collect data and report on the progress of meeting the targets described in the applications of the eligible entities receiving grants.
Expected Effects
The Freedom to Move Act, if enacted, would lead to increased access to public transportation, particularly for low-income individuals, foster care youth, and those living in underserved communities. This could result in higher ridership and potential improvements to bus service and infrastructure.
Additionally, the Act could lead to changes in fare evasion enforcement policies, potentially ending the criminalization of fare evasion. The Act also mandates data collection and reporting on the demographics of communities served and the progress in closing transit equity gaps.
However, the shift to fare-free transit may strain existing transit systems due to increased ridership and operational costs. The Act aims to address these challenges through grant funding for improvements and expansion.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to public transportation, especially for low-income individuals and underserved communities.
- Potential improvements in bus service frequency, reliability, and safety.
- Reduced financial burden on low-income individuals who rely on public transit.
- Possible reduction in commute times and improved connectivity to critical services.
- Stimulation of local economies through increased mobility and access to jobs.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential strain on existing transit systems due to increased ridership and operational costs.
- Risk of inefficient allocation of grant funds if not properly managed and overseen.
- Possible increase in taxes or reallocation of resources to fund the program.
- Potential for overcrowding and decreased service quality if ridership increases significantly without adequate infrastructure improvements.
- Uncertainty regarding the long-term sustainability of fare-free transit programs without continued federal funding.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Freedom to Move Act appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). The Act aims to promote the general welfare by improving public transportation and increasing access for underserved communities. The Act's focus on interstate commerce and transportation also aligns with Congress's power to regulate commerce among the states (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3).
However, the Act's reliance on federal grants to state and local entities raises questions about federalism and the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.
Whether the Act infringes upon states' rights to manage their own transportation systems would depend on the specific conditions and requirements attached to the federal grants. The Act does not appear to violate any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).