1.2 million people in North Carolina barred from driving

In The Appeal: Political Report in April, Daniel Nichanian wrote about obstacles to mobility for people living in North Carolina. Driver’s licenses were revoked for 1.2 million people in the state for failing to pay court fees and fines, without any opportunity to demonstrate their inability to pay. The inability to legally drive, in a state with poor transit options, can have disastrous consequences for people’s access to employment and make the same fees and fines that led to their license suspension even more impossible to pay. 

Nichanian wrote: “Poor transportation, whether it stems from difficulties in acquiring a car or accessing transit, can harm the reentry of people who are involved in the criminal legal system, independently of whether they are eligible to have a driver’s license.” This also underscored “the pernicious nature of ideas like a New York proposal to ban people from using the subway for life if they have been convicted of certain offenses.”

https://theappeal.org/kansas-city-chooses-free-public-transit/ 

#autosprawlsubsidy turns to theft

Did you know that this year's KCMO budget took $3.7 million from the Public Mass Transportation Fund and spent it on repaving streets? We should use that for #ZeroFareTransit instead.https://t.co/uz47g1MfMM

— Josh Boehm (@JoshBoehm) November 13, 2019

Kansas City, MO, transport committee calls for #zerofaretransit

The @KCMO Transportation Infrastructure & Operatoons Committee unanimously passes resolution 190951 for transit priority and #ZeroFareTransit.

— David Johnson (@kclightrail) November 13, 2019

Eloquent call for #freetransit for the NC Triangle

The benefits of fare-free public transit are not confined to the environment and traffic. Having a fare-free system allows lower wealth individuals better access to jobs, education and the many cultural and recreational opportunities our communities offer. It is the ultimate win-win.
So why not the Triangle? I recognize that going fare-free will be neither easy nor fast. It will require that our cities, counties and bus systems work cooperatively with major employers and educational institutions. And fare-free doesn’t mean free — additional revenue sources will have to be found. But as with bus trips themselves, you never finish your journey if you don’t start it.
Not only can we do this, we have to. And the time to start is now. There’s simply too much riding on it.

https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2019/11/occolumn-michael-parker-1104 

Walton, FL, #freepublictransit

Three shuttles able to carry 28 passengers each will travel from northern Walton to South Walton with two stops in Freeport.
Terminals will be located at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs, Freeport City Hall, Freeport Commons and the Walton County Courthouse Annex in Santa Rosa Beach.
“It’s available for anybody that wants to ride in either direction,” said Carpenter, who added that fares will be free for the first three years.

Free Transit starts in Hazard, KY

LKLP Community Action Council is partnering with the City of Hazard and Perry County Fiscal Court to introduce a free three-month trial transportation route throughout the city limits.
Angel Holliday, the first person to use the transportation system, says it allows her to complete the necessary tasks.

https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Free-Public-Transportation-for-People-in-Hazard-512429422.html 

Morgantown, KY, start fare-free #publictransit

...Perhaps the biggest change, besides the "M" for Morgantown logos all around, is transportation.

Starting May 1, Morgantown will have free public transportation for its citizens.

https://www.wbko.com/content/news/Morgantown-announces-free-public-transportation-additional-advancements-in-More-Like-Home-campaign-509084881.html

Maimi water-supply contamination will trigger real estate panic

Which brings us to the next problem. The real estate boom in Miami will come to an end one day. A major slump in property prices could hit tax revenues making it more difficult for Miami to pay for climate change preparations. But the nightmare scenario is that the threat of climate change and sea-level rise could turn Miami from a destination city into a depopulating backwater with plummeting real estate values and contracting economic activity, and with all this happening "before the sea consumes a single house." Who would pay for all the needed adaptation for those staying behind?

resourceinsights

Denton County, Texas, lowers bus fares

wbap.com DENTON (WBAP/KLIF) – Denton County Transportation Authority riders now have lower fares when riding on public transit in North Texas.

President of DCTA Jim Cline hopes this makes traveling in Denton County easy and affordable.

“We want to minimize the impact of cost on the decision to take public transportation,” Cline said.

Fayetteville, Arkansas goes fare-free

ozark.org Additionally, ORT will not charge a fare for exclusively-Fayetteville routes. The 7 ORT routes outside of the city will remain at $1.25 per ride and will be charged at boarding, including transfers from free-Fayetteville routes. This will ease the transfer between ORT and Razorback buses as Razorback routes have always been free-fare.