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The municipalities in Sweden must confront with constantly evolving challenges for a sustainable society. One of these challenges is the vital transportation system which enables the society to function properly. However, it is important to recognize that the transportation system itself presents various factors that require careful consideration. Fare-free public transport has properties that have the potential to address many of the problems the society are facing today.

This study aims to examine the characteristics and advantages of the fare-free public transport system and assess its alignment with Umeå municipality's sustainability objectives in transportation and urban planning. To achieve this, a document study is conducted to identify Umeå municipality's sustainability goals, while a literature review is done to assess the impacts of implementing a fare-free public transport system. By combining the findings, the paper aims to provide insights into the research objective.

The findings suggest that the viability of fare-free public transport depends on the extent to which planners and policymakers are willing to compromise on different dimensions of sustainability. Fare-free public transport can address the social dimension of sustainability goals in Umeå municipality but falls short in achieving the ecological and economical dimensions.