TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

While the goal is wonderful, the proposed action of raising the gasoline tax substantially does not fully consider the impact on retirees, and the elderly who are not capable of walking to the store for groceries, or bringing them home in a backpack. Ditto for riding a bike , electric bike or scooter, or a motorcycle. Income is limited, and the ability to drive to appointments, for ourselves or friends, is critical.
In addition, the cost of electricity is rising as wind power is added to the required mix of electricity sources. Please reconsider!

Our collective response to a clean and green future for all regardless of race, color, creed can be a new economic boom.

Indiciduals need to do all that is possible to amiliorate climate change, However much we do will not be enough to avoid catastrophe, Action from local to state to national governments NOW is needed to avoid the worst effects of our misuse of earthly resources, Start with the buses and go from there.

I travel from mid-coast Maine to Bangor and Boston regularly, and occasionally to New York City to visit family. I usually travel by Concord Trailways. I do not own an electric car because there is not yet a model with AWD that is affordable. But I would very happily take an electric bus and willingly pay extra for it and arrange my schedule to fit its ride schedule if it existed. If these options are made available, people will use them and we will at least make a dent in the regional transportation sector's contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions.
Much more could be done to reduce those emissions if there were better freight rail service.

It seems to me that there is plenty of room down the middle of Rte 422 for a train, perhaps connecting King of Prussia. Just thought I would point that out.
If people can put so much planning into all the gas and oil pipelines, then I’m sure we can put at least as much thought into public transportation and clean energy!
It is a lot nicer and generally safer to take a train than to drive a vehicle.

Fortunately my place of work as well as my house are located near to the Market-Frankford EL in Philadelphia which allows me to reach Center City in a matter of 15 minutes, meaning that I never need to use my car except when going to the suburbs. I hope that the efforts and plans of the east coast cities which are planning to improve public transportation services will receive your support. To have electric cars, buses and streetcars as well as bicycle paths in addition to other forms of public transport can do a lot to lessen the emissions created by cars- especially in these days when SUVs are becoming so popular. I am personally invested in these efforts as I am a person who suffers from asthma and COPD. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

I have lived in Md for over 50 years and I am very proud of my state. I am proud that Maryland is joining states across the region that are trying to protect the climate and improve transportation through the development of a policy collaboration called the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI). Please don't be swayed by the lobbies for the oil and gas companies. Thanks for reading this.

Climate Change is real and must be addressed NOW. The actions and legislation we take today will impact future generations of humans, animals, and plants. We must begin to restore the balance of nature by moving past the "Dark Ages" of fossil fuels. We must "design a regional low-carbon transportation policy proposal that would cap and reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels through a cap-and-invest program or other pricing mechanism" and "complete the policy development process within one year, after which each jurisdiction will decide whether to adopt and implement the policy.” Change is best made at the individual, local, and state levels because we cannot depend upon the federal government to take action. We are stewards of our Earth. And positive changes can be made!

My name is Barrett Rock, and I live in Durham, NH 03824. I am a retired college professor of forestry, and I am interested in the TCI Regional Policy Design effort because I have been conducting research on the impacts of climate change on New England forest tree species (primarily red spruce, white pine and sugar maple since the early 1980s, research which began as an assessment of acid rain damage, and then morphed into climate change issues.
My suggestion on transportation policy design is based on the result of my research, which has clearly documented the effects of automobile and truck emissions on sensitive forest species (red spruce, white pine and sugar maple), in the form of both acidic precipitation and ground-level ozone. Of very critical importance are the emission levels of heavy truck transport systems, especially diesel. Combined with heavy automobile travel, often with one occupant per vehicle, these emissions of CO2, NOx, O3, and SOx are responsible for significant damage to foliar tissues and the photosynthetic apparatus.
My suggestion for the TCI regional policy consideration is the dramatic expansion of a high-speed rail system, preferably across the entire US. CO2 emissions from rail transport are significantly lower than truck transport (to move 1 ton of goods 1 km, a locomotive emits only 18 grams of CO2, compared wth 47 grams by truck. The rail system is essential 3 times more efficient than a truck. Similar comparisons are seen with the other pollutants. An efficient and effective high-speed rail system would compete very effectively with air transportation, which emits a startling 560 grams of CO2 moving the same 1 ton go goods 1 km! Add to that the social equity and availability of passenger high-speed transportation offered by such a transportation policy, and I think the idea has much merit.
Finally, let me say that engaging the stakeholders in the TCI regional policy process is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate democracy in action! Thank you for giving me this chance.