View Public Input on TCI-P

This is one of the worst ideas dreamed up. The cost is extremely high and the return is nil. Virginia should not participate.

I find the proposed structure of this proposal dubious and annoying.It seems to posit that through a complicated structure that pressures the sources of transportation carbon emission we will decrease carbon emissions while protecting lower income folks.Simultaneously its proponents,like Governor Baker, downplay any affect upon the actual price of gasoline and diesel fuel. If you want to do this,I suppose it's better than nothing,unless it's an ineffectual distraction. What is the goal,anyway?The goal is to copy Norway and S.Korea,which will outlaw the sale of gasmobiles in 2025. How is Norway doing this?It's quite simple.When one visits the car dealership in Norway one is presented with two versions of the same car,one electric,one gasoline.The electric one is cheaper to drive off the lot.(Not even considering cost of ownership,lack of repair,etc).So,it's not rocket science.By 2025 in Norway buying a gasmobile will be like now,in the US,buying a Blackberry instead of an I-phone.I suppose it's possible to buy a Blackberry,but why would you? My proposal to add to the TCI? Every day I drive on the Turnpike and see cars,at least as expensive as mine to buy,consuming gasoline.Are they quicker than my car?Likely not.Safer? Likely not,since my car is the safest.Are they more in a hurry and needing to drive 200plus miles without stopping to refuel.Likely not. So here is my proposal,which should not affect lower income folks.Anyone rich enough to buy a gasoline car,new,in 2021 for more than $35,000 should have to pay a yearly pollution tax of $1000 .We don't want pollution,right?(as opposed to employment,investment,etc).We are indirectly paying for all this pollution now.These polluters are increasing my risk of Alzheimer's disease and heart attack.If they want to pollute,let them pay for the privilege.
Use the fee collected to pay for ev rebates for lower income folks. Or for electric school buses. In 2022 raise the fee to $2000 yearly,2023 to $3000,etc. This only applies to cars selling for more than $35,000.That use gasoline.The alternative to paying such fees,for a car costing new $35,000,after rebate,doesn't take a Google search. This would not affect lower income folks,although ultimately,as is true now,low mileage used ev cars will become more available. What will happen to gasoline prices?Unclear.Fewer people will be driving gasomobiles,less demand? But if everyone drives an ev,who will care what gasoline is?Or will we care more to not put up with its stink?And tax its pollution accordingly?

1) I’m opposed to Virginia joining the TCI. It will cost consumers and businesses too much at the gas pump.
2) Virginia should not join TCI. It will impact average citizens, truckers and businesses alike.
3) Virginia cannot afford to join the TCI. The cost to the energy sector will trickle down and impact all Virginians using fuel.
4) This will slow the economic recovery from the COVID crisis
5) I fear the funds from such a liberal minded action will not be well used for the public good.

I strongly support efforts to address the existential threat posed by greenhouse gases by an "all of the above" strategy. The stakes are too high for Virginians to be worried about 20% increases in the cost of a gallon of gasoline. To fail to take all possible steps to address climate change is to doom future generations to incurring much higher costs than a $0.50/gallon tax.

I support a strong TCI-P Model Rule that (1) ensures meaningful climate action to address Virginia's largest driver of our climate crisis, (2) directs significant investments to correcting historic inequities in overburdened and underserved communities; and (3) affords Virginia the opportunity for a cleaner, healthier transportation system.

Transportation is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the region, as well as dangerous particulates that cause health problems like asthma. Particulate emissions especially impact those near major roads, which often include lower income and minority communities. To solve these problems we need to move to a clean transportation system, and a clean-energy economy. TCI-P will greatly help the region do this – it will improve air quality, lower health care costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate revenue for other environmental initiatives to further accelerate our progress.

I support a strong TCI-P Model Rule that (1) ensures meaningful climate action to address the largest driver of our climate crisis, (2) directs significant investments to correcting historic inequities in overburdened and underserved communities; and (3) affords the opportunity for a cleaner, healthier transportation system. I call for the TCI-P Model Rule to include (1) a minimum investment amount to ensure overburdened and underserved communities receive a greater-then-proportional share of investments from the program, (2) integration of air quality commitments across the region, and (3) robust empowerment of state equity advisory bodies

I call for the TCI-P Model Rule to include:
(1) a minimum investment amount to ensure overburdened and underserved communities in Virginia receive a greater-then-proportional share of investments from the program,
(2) integration of air quality commitments across Virginia, and
(3) robust empowerment of Virginia's Equity Advisory Body.

I am writing to support a strong TCI-P Model Rule that can make a sizeable difference towards climate action since transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and particulate pollution in Virginia and the DMV area. The TCI-P Model Rule addresses racial injustice as it invests in underserved communities and will help provide a cleaner, healthier transportation system for Virginia. Investing in a clean economy for Virginia, is a win as it will improve air quality, lower health care costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate revenue for other environmental initiatives to further accelerate our progress.

No issue is more important than addressing the climate crisis and everything that can reasonably be done to minimize GHG emissions from the transportation sector should be undertaken. Please take into account that proposed actions by the Biden Administration should lessen the burden on the states and localities by providing funding for new infrastructure including charging stations and rail transit.