Freedom to Move Act

This bill creates a national grant program to help communities make public transit free to ride and improve service. The Department of Transportation would award competitive “Freedom to Move” grants to states, local governments, transit agencies, and nonprofits to replace lost fare revenue and upgrade transit, with attention to underserved neighborhoods. Grants last five years, can go to rural and urban areas, and the first awards must be made within 360 days of the law taking effect.

Funding can support safer, more frequent, and more reliable buses—things like better bus stops, shelters, bus lanes, signal priority, street redesigns, and staffing to handle more riders. Applicants must show how they will engage the community, study equity gaps (like commute times and ridership by group), improve service in low‑income and historically underserved areas, and end the criminalization of fare evasion. They must also track assaults on transit workers and use training and policies to protect staff. The program requires a progress report after three years and authorizes $5 billion each year from fiscal years 2026–2030.

• Who is affected: Riders (especially in underserved communities); state and local governments; transit agencies; nonprofits; transit employees.
• What changes: Fare‑free transit programs; bus service improvements (stops, shelters, lanes, signals, street design, staffing); community outreach; equity reviews; ending fare‑evasion criminal penalties; worker safety training and tracking.
• When: Grants awarded within 360 days; each grant runs five years; data report due after three years; funding authorized for FY 2026–2030.