News Release

Freedom Riders National Monument Finalizes the Bus Burning Site Master Plan and Environmental Assessment

Date: January 20, 2026

ANNISTON, Ala. — The National Park Service finalized the master plan and environmental assessment for the Bus Burning Site at Freedom Riders National Monument with a finding of no significant impact. The finalized plan/EA provides management guidance, development concepts and conceptual designs for commemoration of the Freedom Rides and Riders at the Bus Burning Site unit of the national monument. The plan/EA integrates natural and cultural resource protection goals of the park and assesses impacts related to visitor experience.     

In August and September 2025, the NPS solicited input from the public and stakeholders on the plan/EA, which analyzed four alternatives: the no-action alternative (alternative 1), which provides a basis for comparing environmental impacts of the action alternatives, and three action alternatives (alternatives 2-4) that would implement various development concepts to promote visitor access and appreciation and provide a space for the commemoration of the Freedom Rides and Riders. The NPS selected “alternative 3 (NPS proposed action/preferred alternative)” as the action for implementation. The FONSI and plan/EA can be found at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/FRRI_Bus_Burning_Plan.