,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbgh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bb1 #bjbj,mr4 ,markey introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,transportation to carry out a grant program to support efforts to provide fare-free transit service1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,freedom to ,move ,act 4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to invest in the efforts of ,states1 counties1 and local municipalities to provide fare-free public transportation2 and 7#b7 to support ,states1 counties1 and local municipalities in improving and expanding access to safe1 accessible1 and reliable mass transit systems in order to improve the livability of communities4 #c4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,increasing access to safe1 reliable1 and affordable public transit systems1 including buses1 light rail1 and subways can help increase community livability and access to critical services such as education1 jobs1 and healthcare4 7#b7 ,the cost of transit fares can act as a challenging economic barrier for low-income individuals and families who are most likely to rely on public transportation to access critical services and must spend larger parts of their household budget on transportation services4 ,removing economic barriers to safe1 reliable1 and affordable public transit can help to increase social and economic mobility by increasing access to education1 training1 and employment4 7#c7 ,individuals with disabilities are twice as likely as those without disabilities to have inadequate access to safe1 affordable1 and reliable transportation4 ,reports have found that of the nearly #b1jjj1jjj people with disabilities who are unable to leave their homes1 nearly #cj percent are unable to do so due to a lack of adequate transportation4 7#d7 ,as the senior population continues to grow1 an increasing number of elderly adults depend on public transit to access medical care and other vital services4 ,additionally1 the percentage of #ac- to #cd-year-olds without a driver's license continues to grow4 ,taken together1 these trends show the unprecedented urgency of investing in and improving the public transit systems of the ,united ,states4 7#e7 ,according to the ,department of ,transportation1 transportation accounts for #bi percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the ,united ,states4 ,public transportation1 however1 produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions per passenger mile than transportation by private vehicles4 ,increasing public transit ridership and moving more people to and from critical services with fewer vehicles on the road can reduce greenhouse gas emissions4 7#f7 ,eliminating transit fares and significantly reducing economic barriers to public transit will help to reduce the need for fare evasion policies that disproportionately criminalize low-income individuals and people of color4 #d4 ,grants to support fare-free transit 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state1 a political subdivision of a ,state1 or an ,indian ,tribe2 7,b7 a transit agency2 7,c7 a private nonprofit organization engaged in public transportation in a rural area2 or 7,d7 a partnership between #b or more entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c74 7#b7 ,foster care youth ,the term foster care youth-- 7,a7 means children and youth whose care and placement are the responsibility of the ,state or ,tribal agency that administers a ,state or ,tribal plan under part ,b or ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq4 and #fgj et seq471 without regard to whether foster care maintenance payments are made under section #dgb of that ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgb7 on behalf of such children and youth2 and 7,b7 includes individuals who were age #ac or older when their care and placement were the responsibility of a ,state or ,tribal agency that administered a ,state or ,tribal plan under part ,b or ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq4 and #fgj et seq47 and who are no longer under the care and responsibility of such a ,state or ,tribal agency1 without regard to any such individual's subsequent adoption1 guardianship arrangement1 or other form of permanency outcome4 7#c7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe means an ,indian tribe1 as that term is used in chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#d7 ,low-income individual ,the term low-income individual means an individual whose family income is at or below #aej percent of the poverty line 7as that term is defined in section #fgc7b7 of the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b771 including any revision required by that section7 for a family of the size involved4 7#e7 ,mass transit2 public transit2 transit ,the terms mass transit1 public transit1 and transit mean public transportation4 7#f7 ,public transportation ,the term public transportation-- 7,a7 means regular1 continuing shared-ride surface transportation services that are open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age1 disability1 or low income2 and 7,b7 does not include-- 7i7 intercity passenger rail transportation provided by the entity described in chapter #bdc of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7or a successor to that entity72 7ii7 intercity bus service2 7iii7 charter bus service2 7iv7 school bus service2 7v7 sightseeing service2 7vi7 courtesy shuttle service for patrons of one or more specific establishments2 or 7vii7 intra-terminal or intra-facility shuttle services4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#h7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given the term in section #ecjb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#i7 ,underserved community ,the term underserved community means-- 7,a7 a community that-- 7i7 is not served by any existing bus route2 or 7ii7 receives infrequent bus service2 and 7,b7 a community located in an area within a census tract that is identified as-- 7i7 a low-income community2 and 7ii7 a community of color4 7b7 ,grants authorized ,not later than #cfj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall award grants 7which shall be known as ,freedom to ,move ,grants7 to eligible entities1 on a competitive basis1 to cover the lost fare revenue for fare-free public transportation and improve public transportation4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including1 at a minimum1 the following3 7#a7 ,a description of how the eligible entity plans to implement fare-free transit access4 7#b7 ,a description of how the eligible entity will work to expand and improve bus service1 which may include-- 7,a7 a bus network redesign2 7,b7 how the bus network redesign will prioritize consistent and reliable service for low-income and underserved communities2 7,c7 how the bus network redesign will prioritize connectivity to critical services and improve community livability2 and 7,d7 how the eligible entity will meaningfully consult with members of the community1 community leaders1 local stakeholders and advocates 7including transit advocates and disability advocates71 local education agencies and institutions of higher education1 community developers1 labor unions1 public housing agencies1 and workforce development boards1 while facilitating the bus network redesign4 7#c7 ,a description of how the eligible entity will meaningfully partner and collaborate with members of the community1 community leaders1 local stakeholders and advocates 7including transit advocates and disability advocates71 local education agencies and institutions of higher education1 community developers1 labor unions1 public housing agencies and workforce development boards to support outreach efforts to increase awareness of fare-free transit programs1 including fare-free bus programs4 7#d7 ,a description of the eligible entity's equity evaluation examining any equity and mobility gaps within each transit system operated by the eligible entity or within the geographic area under the jurisdiction of the eligible entity1 and how the eligible entity plans to significantly close those gaps1 including-- 7,a7 the average commute time for driver commuters and non-driver commuters2 7,b7 public transit ridership rates disaggregated by-- 7i7 mode of transportation2 and 7ii7 demographic group1 including youth 7including foster care youth71 seniors1 individuals with disabilities1 and low-income individuals2 and 7,c7 average length of bus routes and average delay times4 7#e7 ,a description of the eligible entity's fare evasion enforcement policies1 including-- 7,a7 the cost of the fine1 if any1 and whether the infraction is considered a civil offense or a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment2 7,b7 the number of individuals charged with violating a fare evasion policy1 disaggregated by age1 race1 gender1 and disability status2 and 7,c7 how the eligible entity plans to eliminate fare evasion policies and end the criminalization of individuals evading fares4 7#f7 ,an estimate of additional costs that the eligible entity will incur as a result of increased ridership1 including-- 7,a7 fuel costs2 7,b7 personnel costs2 7,c7 maintenance costs2 and 7,d7 other operational costs4 7#g7 ,information and statistics on assaults on transit employees and a description of each training or policy used or intended to be used to protect employees1 which may include de-escalation training4 7d7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this section shall be for a #e-year period4 7e7 ,selection of eligible entities ,in carrying out the grant program under this section1 the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities located in both rural and urbanized areas4 7f7 ,uses of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant to support-- 7#a7 implementing a fare-free transit program2 and 7#b7 efforts to improve public transportation1 particularly in underserved communities1 including costs associated with efforts to provide more safe1 frequent1 and reliable bus service1 including-- 7,a7 bus stop safety and accessibility improvements2 7,b7 pedestrian and bike shelters2 7,c7 signage2 7,d7 painted bus lanes2 7,e7 signal priority systems2 7,f7 street redesign2 7,g7 operational costs to meet demands of increased ridership1 including hiring and training of personnel2 and 7,h7 conducting a bus network redesign4 7g7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 collect data from each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section on the progress of the entity in meeting the targets described in the application of the entity2 and 7,b7 publish and submit to ,congress a report containing the data collected under subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,requirements ,the report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 include data on demographics of communities served under this section1 disaggregated and cross-tabulated by-- 7i7 race2 7ii7 ethnicity2 7iii7 sex2 and 7iv7 household median income2 and 7,b7 assess the progress of eligible entities towards significantly closing transit equity and mobility gaps as described in subsection 7c77#d74 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4