TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

POET appreciates the opportunity to comment on the TCI Framework. Our comments are attached.

My name is Shaniya Davies. I go to Weaver High School in Hartford Connecticut and I'm an intern with the Transport Hartford Academy. I've been researching the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional effort to reduce pollution, improve transportation, and develop clean energy. We want to see more people care about climate change.

Last summer, our organization surveyed over 800 people who live and work in CT who believe our state should adopt TCI. Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, mostly because of how much we drive cars - so we need better options. For TCI’s investments, 92% of our survey respondents want to see CT Improving existing public transportation, including buses, trains, and dial a ride, while 91% said expanding /Improving sidewalks and bike lanes to provide safe alternatives to driving should be spending priorities.

As a teenager with asthma who gets around mostly by walking and taking the bus, public health, walking safety, and transit service are big concerns that TCI investments can help us address. Many people in my community have health issues in their systems.

I have asthma and there is too much pollution. Asthma is a serious thing to deal with people who could have asthma attacks. They could be low on breathing. It could cause death on somebody. I don't wanna risk falling in the middle of the street or getting run over by a car. TCI will promote sustainability and healthy/livable communities. Should have benefits and more effort in the environment by working together and making more increase and do better. It should change all stages of transportation, including people who take the bus in making decisions planning, design, and construction. We can have better data analysis to measure resources, benefits, and outcomes of a community.

Like for some people that have experience from taking the bus. For example I take the bus and the bus schedules don't even be right i would have to sit in the cold to wait for the bus. I was going to work by taking the bus and i waited for almost an hour for the bus come and i was late to work.So i would have to take the bus earlier than what i usually do so i wouldn’t be late and end up getting in trouble from my job, They Should have better routes and access,time management lets others know the exact time instead of waiting for a certain amount of time for the bus to arrive at the stop or destination.

Sidewalks should look better so people can walk without walking into cracks, holes, and more things on the ground. This is important for public health, cutting pollution, helping my community.

I highly support the developent of regional transportation initiatives that rely on clean energy sources. I routinely use the bus to travel from Maine to Boston and would use a clean transport system in preference to a polluting option even if it cost more to do so.

In this state of Mass. we have raised taxes to fix the climate dilema a few times already. Leave our personal money alone. You are forcing all of us to move to Florida, the tax free state.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Shouldn't everyone care about reducing pollution from transportation? This is the largest source of global warming emissions, both regionally and nationally. The Susquehanna Valley's air quality is below what we should expect, and FAR below what it should really be.

I hope that Pennsylvania formally joins the plan to reduce emissions and with the state government's full backing and support. It's my hope that the policy includes a strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access. I'm grateful for the bipartisan nature of this project, and have sincere belief that this will move us forward, even while the federal government takes us backward.

Regards,
Sharon

Reducing transportation sector emissions is important to me because I'd like to leave a cleaner Earth for my grandchildren. I would like to
thank Gov. Lamont for being involved in the regional design process and request that Connecticut formally sign on to the initiative. We need the TCI leadership to choose the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions cap since we have already lost precious time in our environmental efforts.
I'm also asking TCI policy has to include equity and investment in overburdened and under-served communities as a first and foremost priority.

Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. That means it's time to totally reimagine the way that we transport people and goods.

The states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and the city of Washington, D.C., are working on a groundbreaking policy to modernize the transportation sector under the Transportation and Climate Initiative.

In order for this regional plan to work, governors of these states and the mayor of Washington, D.C., must ensure that this transportation plan is bold enough to cut harmful transportation pollution at the scale needed to avert the climate crisis. We need a plan that holds large transportation polluters accountable for the pollution they create and invests in clean transportation solutions including:
More public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure in rural areas
Expansion of commuter rail, electric vehicles, and streets in the suburbs that are safe, walkable, and bikeable
Sustainable and equitable housing near transit and electric bus fleets in urban communities

Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. I support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. This transportation plan must be bold enough to cut harmful transportation pollution at the scale needed to avert the climate crisis. We need a plan that holds large transportation polluters accountable for the pollution they create and invests in clean transportation solutions including:
More public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure in rural areas
Expansion of commuter rail, electric vehicles, and streets in the suburbs that are safe, walkable, and bikeable
Sustainable and equitable housing near transit and electric bus fleets in urban communities.