Minnesota candidate calls for #freepublictransit

@OmarFatehMN

The freedom of movement is very important to an open and free society. Personal automobiles will always be less sustainable and accessible than public transit. Therefore, we must expand our system of public transportation statewide and make it free.

https://omarfateh.org/environment.html 

Make #publictransit free for youth - @activetrans

5 steps to building a more fair and just transit system🚍

✅Decriminalize fare evasion
✅Implement fare capping
✅Move forward w/ Metra Electric/Rock island pilot
✅Make transit free for youth
✅Fund a discounted fare for low-income riders#FairFaresChi https://t.co/XXLc5mM064

— Active Trans (@activetrans) November 19, 2019

2010 - Rod Blagojevich railroaded by oil-auto-sprawl interests

Both sides vowed to keep up the court fight after the jury found Blagojevich, 53, guilty on a lesser charge of making false statements to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on the remaining 23 counts including racketeering, bribery, and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
The conviction carries a maximum prison term of five years, though the former governor is likely to serve a few months to a year in prison if nothing changes during the retrial of the case, a legal expert told ABC News.

https://abcnews.go.com/WN/rod-blagojevich-trial-guilty-24-counts-jury-deadlocks/story?id=11411037

In spite of heavy spin by ABC corporate media [above] the fact remains that Blagojevich was cleared of 23 out of 24 counts by the grand jury. At that time the penalty was 5 years. Later, since they couldn't get the courts to jail him, oil-auto-sprawl had the case referred to the assembly where he was quickly given 14 years. All this for winning free public transit for seniors.

"free fares will increase ridership" -- Twin Cities

“Free fares are important for several reasons — climate, equity, safety,” said Amity Foster, of the Twin Cities Transit Riders Union, a local advocacy group. “They’re a way for us to address our climate crisis; moving people out of their cars and onto public transit is essential and free fares will increase ridership.”

http://m.startribune.com/after-kansas-city-made-transit-free-what-about-the-twin-cities/566721742/ 

Candidate for Minnesota House calls for #freepublictransit

@SoniaNeculescu

Twin Cities Transit Riders call for fare-free #publictransit

@TCTRU

Kansas City considering fare-free #publictransit

..., Kansas City Area Transportation Authority buses are seldom packed. Even at rush hour, many are less than full, and some buses run almost completely empty in the middle of the day. But in downtown, thousands of residents and visitors each month gladly hop on and off the Kansas City Streetcar Authority’s Main Street streetcar line. Cost to ride the streetcar: zero. 

Put these facts together and it seems like it might be a good idea if public transit everywhere in Kansas City became free to use.

https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/kansas-city-considers-doing-away-with-transit-fares-citywide 

Kansas City, MO, transit agency wants to end fares

Free public transportation is a bold initiative, and the head of Kansas City's regional transit agency thinks it's viable for Kansas City.

https://www.kcur.org/post/head-kansas-city-s-bus-system-says-public-transportation-should-be-free#stream/0 

Polls consistently show that Americans want more #publictransit and are willing to pay taxes to get it

Almost six in 10 Minnesota voters are willing to pay higher taxes or user fees to support more spending on transit

https://finance-commerce.com/2018/10/minneapolis-chamber-poll-finds-support-for-transit-investment/ 

Indianapolis, better service means more riders

The city of Indianapolis is learning that beefed-up transit service quickly translates to more riders — with local transit agency IndyGo reporting this week that ridership was up 3.4 percent this August compared to the previous year.

streetsblog