Sponsors (27)
The bill would expand fare-free transit and invest in service improvements that lower costs and increase mobility for many—especially low-income riders—while creating sizable federal and local funding obligations and risks to long-term service sustainability, data privacy, and burdens on small agencies.
Low-income people, transit-dependent riders, students, and people with disabilities gain free access to local public transit, reducing daily travel costs and increasing mobility.
Communities (urban and rural) receive funding for network redesigns and service expansion, improving connectivity to jobs, education, and essential services.
Transit agencies can hire and train personnel and invest in safety and accessibility improvements, supporting better service quality and more accessible transit for riders.
All taxpayers fund a new federal appropriation of $5 billion per year (FY2026–2030), increasing federal spending obligations.
Local and state governments and local taxpayers may face higher costs to implement and sustain fare-free service and transit expansion, possibly requiring increased local/state spending.
Removing fares risks eliminating an important local revenue stream: when federal grants end, transit agencies could face service cuts or degraded maintenance if sustained funding isn't found.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive five-year grant program to fund fare-free public transit and transit improvements, covering lost fares and requiring equity, ridership, and enforcement reporting.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Ayanna Pressley · Last progress July 23, 2025
Creates a competitive federal grant program to help states, counties, cities, transit agencies, and eligible nonprofits run fare-free public transit and improve mass transit service. Grants cover lost fare revenue and capital/operating needs, prioritize underserved communities, require equity- and community-centered planning, and mandate reporting on ridership, costs, fare-evasion enforcement, and worker safety. Grants are five-year awards and must be awarded within 360 days of enactment.