KENOSHA, Wis. – Congressman Bryan Steil (R–Wis.) is sponsoring new federal legislation aimed at curbing fare evasion in public transit systems after revelations that Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) told drivers not to request fares from passengers.

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The proposed measure, called the No Free Rides Act, would require transit agencies that receive federal funds to enforce fare collection or risk losing access to certain federal grants. Steil introduced the bill alongside Congressman Scott Perry (R–Pa.).

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According to federal data and investigative reporting, MCTS’s fare policy has contributed to an estimated $4 million in lost revenue and helped create a $10 million operating deficit. In June, MCTS disclosed a $10.9 million shortfall, citing “unexpected expenses and lower passenger revenue.”

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“Federal funds are intended to strengthen and sustain public transportation, not give free rides to people who cheat the system,” Steil said in a statement. “Whether it’s refusing to request fare from riders or eliminating fares entirely, these policies not only push transit agencies like MCTS toward insolvency but are fundamentally unfair to the hardworking families who rely on public transportation, follow the rules, and pay their fares.”

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The bill would bar transit systems from receiving federal funding if they implement universal fare-free policies. However, it includes exceptions for limited programs offering free or reduced fares for seniors, low-income riders, students, or other ridership groups.

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Reports indicate MCTS is on pace to lose more than $10 million in uncollected fares this year. Studies dating back to 2008 have warned about MCTS’s financial instability, and more recent findings suggest county leaders were kept in the dark about the depth of the system’s deficit.

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Steil has previously written to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Transit Administration Administrator Mark Molinaro urging federal scrutiny of MCTS’s policies and finances.

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