Reintroduction of the Freedom to Move Act Seeks to Make Public Transportation a Public Good in Massachusetts

Strategic Insights -

Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley have reintroduced the Freedom to Move Act, legislation aimed at supporting state and local efforts to establish public transportation as a public good through fare-free services. The bill builds upon successful fare-free pilot programs in Boston and with leadership from Regional Transit Authorities across the Commonwealth. The legislation seeks to alleviate the high burden of transportation costs on working families, increase accessibility and efficiency of public transportation, and address environmental and social injustices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Freedom to Move Act would establish a $5 billion competitive grant program per year to support state and local efforts to implement fare-free public transportation systems.
  • The bill invests in efforts to improve the safety and quality of public transportation services, particularly in low-income and historically underserved communities.
  • The legislation aims to ensure that grantees use funds to address and close equity gaps in current transit systems.
  • Low-income families have faced the biggest financial burden, spending nearly 30 percent of their household income on transportation expenses.
  • Traffic congestion has worsened greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, exacerbating climate change and contributing to health disparities like asthma and lung cancer.
  • Co-sponsors of the Freedom to Move Act include Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representatives Alma Adams, and 17 other lawmakers.
  • The bill's reintroduction comes after successful fare-free pilot programs in Boston and a fare-free pilot program modeled after the legislation was included in the Moving Forward Act passed by the House of Representatives in July 2020.
  • Senator Markey and Rep. Pressley have been advocating for fare-free public transportation since June 2020, and their efforts have led to the reintroduction of the Freedom to Move Act in March 2021.

Statistics:

  • The Freedom to Move Act aims to invest $5 billion annually in subgrant programs to support fare-free public transportation systems.
  • Low-income families spend nearly 30 percent of their household income on transportation expenses.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions and pollution have worsened due to traffic congestion, contributing to climate change and health disparities.
  • The legislation would promote public transportation as a public good for all.
  • The bill's reintroduction comes after successful fare-free pilot programs in Boston and a fare-free pilot program modeled after the legislation was included in the Moving Forward Act passed by the House of Representatives.

Sources:

  • "Markey & Pressley Reintroduce Freedom to Move Act to Make Public Transportation a Public Good" by Senator Edward J. Markey
  • "Freedom to Move Act" by Rep. Ayanna Pressley
  • "Moving Forward Act" by House of Representatives
  • "Op-ed: Investing in Public Transportation as a Public Good" by Senator Edward J. Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Michelle Wu