TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

The clock is ticking on the environment, and we have NO CHOICE but to improve it or we're blacking out the future for our kids and grandkids!

I support an ambitious and strong Transportation and Climate Initiative that promotes low-carbon solutions all over the region including rural states like Maine. Our transportation system is not working for us or our environment-we need more investment on public transportation, electric vehicles and infrastructures, bikeable and walkable communities and we need to think about land-use planning.

STOP IT! We don’t need any more taxes or fees in Rhode Island. We pay enough! MA already has cheaper gas. Why would you make it more difficult to complete with MA? This garbage is why people are fleeing RI. I can’t wait to retire and move to a state that respects its citizens and supports business and doesn’t look to rip off taxpayers!

Transportation and Climate Initiative -Less pollution, healthier lives
Reducing Pollution and Transforming Our Transportation System
Transportation is now the largest source of climate disrupting carbon pollution in Maryland and across the country. The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) is a collaboration between Washington D.C. and 12 Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from transportation modes like cars, buses, and trucks and accelerate clean, modern and multimodal forms of transportation. Maryland and other states are engaged in ongoing conversations and gathering of public input, with the facilitation of Georgetown Climate Center, to determine a regional policy that would reduce transportation pollution.
One policy that has been widely discussed is a cap and invest program, similar to a program that exists in the electric power sector. This policy could set a declining cap on the amount of carbon pollution released by the use of transportation fuels by requiring entities like wholesale fuel distributors that sell gasoline and other fuels to retail outlets (i.e., gas stations) to purchase emission permits available under the cap (2). The proceeds from sale by states of those permits could then be invested in clean alternatives like electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, public transportation, walking and biking projects, and other smart growth initiatives, speeding up the must needed transition to a clean, equitable, 21st century transportation system.Mirroring a partnership that works.This partnership could closely mirror an effort the region has taken through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which sets a declining cap on the amount of carbon dioxide power plants can emit and generates dedicated funds for clean energy programs through states’ sale of emission permits under the cap to power plants. The program has helped cut regional emissions nearly in half and invested over $616 million (3) in Maryland mostly for energy efficiency, consumer benefit, and clean energy projects. Participating Governments CT, D.C., DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VI, VA.
WHAT WOULD INVESTING IN CLEAN TRANSPORTATION GET US?
A recent analysis by the Georgetown Climate Center found that investing $3 billion annually in the Northeast states to reduce vehicle GHG emissions would (4):
Save thousands of lives in the region in 2030. Create more than 113,000 jobs in D.C. and Maryland through 2030 Put $11.81 billion in D.C. and Marylanders pockets through 2030. 73% of Marylanders support a policy to limit transportation pollution (5)
Who makes the decisions?
The Maryland Departments of Environment and Transportation makes decisions on adopting this policy in collaboration with other agencies, states, and D.C. The Maryland General Assembly passed a law affirming the state's direction in this program in 2019.
Recommendations for policy solutions
Maryland should make a make a firm commitment to adopt a regional transportation policy that achieves a minimum 40 percent reduction in transportation sector climate pollution by 2030, to keep us on track to meet the climate goals updated by the General Assembly in 2016.
Investment and policy decisions should be made based on pollution reduction and equity goals, as well as robust engagement opportunities from the public‒particularly those most overburdened by transportation pollution and undeserved by our current transportation system.

Some part of TCI revenue needs to be disbursed to EV infrastructure associated with affordable housing. It could be grants to affording housing developers for charging stations, grid tied or solar. There could be Additional rebates toward EV purchase or lease for low income families, especially ones that are underserved by public transportation or that live in affordable or low income housing.

This Transportation and Climate Initiative is nothing more than a veiled attempt to apply a TAX on gasoline. We VOTED DOWN THE GAS TAX five years ago!!! So, instead of going through proper legislative procedures and put this tax in front of taxpayers, who would overwhelmingly defeat it AGAIN, the TCI is being promoted with little fanfare so as to not draw attention of the masses. Why do I pay Excise Taxes on my vehicles again?? That tax was supposed to go away once the Turnpike was paid off. Taxpayers BE AWARE!! Ask anyone from California how the TCI is working for them??

. I am concerned about pollution from transportation, our largest source of global warming emissions, since climate change will greatly affect my children and their children.
• I will be pushing for Virginia to formally join TCI.
• The policy must has a strong environmental justice component by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access.
• Thank you for making this a bipartisan project, moving us forward even as the federal government takes us backward.

The New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA), which represents more than 100 transit systems throughout New York State, supports the goals of the TCI effort. The development of a cap and invest program is both consistent with the environmental and energy objectives of public transportation and is a way to increase funding for public transportation to transition to low emission transit vehicles and to expand transit service.

NYPTA offers the following comments on the TCI draft MOU:
• NYPTA supports the goals and objectives of the TCI cap and invest program proposal.
• NYPTA supports the intent to invest program proceeds in low carbon and clean mobility options in urban, suburban and rural communities, and specifically in public transportation.
• Greater investment to modernize and enhance public transportation throughout New York State supports the goals of the TCI program, particularly greater investment to support the transition to cleaner public transportation infrastructure and to increase public transportation services.
• In developing the program, TCI should consider the impact on transit systems in small communities and rural areas, which have fewer resources and where the transition to clean fuel vehicles may take much longer. The increased cost of diesel fuel and gasoline to transit systems in these areas that will result from the cap and invest program will be burdensome and could negatively impact the continuation of these essential transit services to customers who need them most. An exemption (or credit) from any increase in fuel prices for public transportation services resulting from a carbon cap should be considered in designing the program in order to mitigate any negative financial impacts.
• NYPTA strongly supports returning the proceeds generated from the cap and invest program to the state where they are generated or earned.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft MOU.

I support the idea of the TCI, but am deeply concerned that it is not nearly ambitious enough. The IPCC tells us we need to cut emissions much more drastically than the most aggressive scenario under the TCI. So while the TCI is a good start, governors need to face the political consequences and voter backlash if the do not do enough to protect the lives and livelihoods of their constituents by failing to adequately address climate change.

I already have an electric car and love it, and plan on putting solar panels on our house when we can afford it, but it is vital to decarbonize our transport network and economy.

The TCI is a step in the right direction, but please step it up and be bolder!