H.R. 4719 — Freedom to Move Act

This section states the purposes of the Act, which are (1) to invest in state, county, and local efforts to provide fare-free public transportation and (2) to support state, county, and local improvements and expansions to safe, accessible, and reliable mass transit systems to enhance community livability.

This section establishes a competitive grant program, known as “Freedom to Move Grants,” to be awarded by the Secretary not later than 360 days after enactment to eligible entities (i.e., states, counties, municipalities, transit agencies, rural public transportation nonprofits, or partnerships thereof) for a five-year period. Grants cover lost fare revenue from fare-free public transportation and fund service improvements, particularly in underserved communities (i.e., areas with no or infrequent bus service or in low-income communities of color), including bus network redesigns prioritizing low-income and historically underserved areas; bus stop accessibility; painted bus lanes; signal priority; operational costs for increased ridership; and consultations with stakeholders such as transit and disability advocates, labor unions, public housing agencies, and workforce boards. To apply, eligible entities must describe fare-free implementation plans, equity analyses of mobility gaps (including by foster care youth, defined as current or former children and youth under state or tribal Title IV-B or IV-E plans of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et seq.), current fare evasion enforcement and plans to eliminate it, ridership cost estimates, and transit employee safety measures; the Secretary must select grantees from both rural and urbanized areas.