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New Freedom program (Section 5317)

History of the New Freedom program

The New Freedom program grew out of the New Freedom Initiative introduced by the Administration under Executive Order 13217, “Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities”, on June 18, 2001. The Order states: “The United States is committed to community-based alternatives for individuals with disabilities and recognizes that such services advance the best interests of the United States” and calls upon the Federal government to assist States and localities to swiftly implement the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C. Executive Order 13217 directed six Federal agencies to evaluate the policies, programs, statutes and regulations of their respective agencies to determine whether any should be revised or modified to improve the availability of community-based services for qualified individuals with disabilities. Although not named in the Executive Order, the U.S. Departments of Transportation and others also joined in the implementation effort. Together, these agencies formed the Interagency Council on Community Living under the leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Individuals who are transportation-disadvantaged face different challenges in accessing services, depending on whether they live in urban, rural, or suburban areas. Additionally, the geographic dispersion of transportation-disadvantaged populations creates challenges for human service programs hoping to deliver transportation for their passengers.

Over the years, in response to these challenges, Federal, State and local governments, and community-based organizations have created specialized programs to meet particular transportation needs. However, most of these are human service programs that fund limited transportation services to provide eligible participants with access to particular services, such as job training, health care, senior centers, or rehabilitation programs leaving gaps in transportation services and barriers to transportation options.

The President has included funds for the New Freedom program in the annual budget request to Congress since federal fiscal year 2003; however funding was not authorized by Congress until the enactment of the federal transportation bill SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users) beginning in federal fiscal year 2006.

New Freedom program goals

The goal of the New Freedom program is to provide additional tools to overcome existing barriers Americans with disabilities face in seeking integration into the workforce and full participation in society. Lack of adequate transportation for getting to work is a primary barrier for individuals with disabilities. The 2000 Census showed that only 60 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 64 with disabilities are employed. The New Freedom program seeks to reduce barriers to transportation services and expand transportation mobility options available to people with disabilities beyond the requirements of the ADA of 1990.

Designated recipient of New Freedom funds

In Wisconsin, WisDOT has been named as the designated recipient for all New Freedom funds. As such, WisDOT is responsible for:

• conducting the competitive selection process
• applying to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for funding
• certifying to FTA that each project selected is derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan
• certifying to FTA that local plans are developed through a process that includes representatives of public, private, and non-profit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public
• managing all aspects of grant distribution and oversight for sub recipients receiving funds under this program, and
• submitting reports as required by FTA

Additional information

New Freedom funding and apportionments

New Freedom awarded projects and requirements

New Freedom application

New Freedom eligibility and program provisions

Resources for mobility managers

Contact: Ingrid Koch, ingrid.koch@dot.state.wi.us, or (608) 266-1379

Questions about the content of this page:
Ingrid Koch, ingrid.koch@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: March 28, 2008