Washington (February 18, 2022) – Today Senator Edward J. Markey’s (D-Mass.) and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took to Twitter Spaces to discuss the need for fare-free public transit. Mayor Wu spoke about the steps she’s taken to expand fare-free bus service for three key bus routes in Boston.  “We're launching this pilot in order to show what's possible and to show that it's really life changing,” explained Mayor Wu on Twitter Spaces. “When you take down barriers for people to get where they need to go, - to school, to jobs, to houses of worship and youth organizations – […] it makes a huge difference.”

Boston’s efforts mirror Senator Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s (MA-07) Freedom to Move Act, bold legislation that would support state and local efforts to establish public transportation as a public good through fare-free services. During the Twitter Spaces, Senator Markey noted that he and Congresswoman Pressley made sure to include the word ‘freedom’ when naming the Freedom to Move Act because the economic, employment, and health opportunities that come when public transit riders can get to where they need to go – work, grocery stores, doctor’s appointments, class – without having to worry if they can afford to do so.

Senator Markey and Mayor Wu went on to explain that steps like those to expand fare-free bus fare are the pieces of what is making Boston a Green New Deal city. Mayor Wu explained that “this Green New Deal framework that Senator Markey has created and has been continuing to lead on is really fundamental for our it's a baseline for our future.”

The full audio from this Twitter Spaces can be found HERE.

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