TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Dear Governor Baker:

As a senior citizen on a fixed income, I am writing in support of the Transportation Climate Initiative currently under review.

Before I retired, I worked in transportation demand management, both as the executive director of a TMA, and as the commuter services contractor for Pfizer. In the latter role, I helped facilitate the implementation of an MBTA pass program to accompany the transition of Pfizer's Cambridge work force from Alewife to Kendall Square.

I am keenly aware of the role of transportation (vis-a-vis greenhouse gas emissions) in the climate crisis and am excited to see TCI come to fruition.

Hopefully, there is enough political will across the board to approve TCI and start planning as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Please see the attached comments of Conservation Law Foundation ("CLF") in support of the December 17, 2019 draft memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (“TCI”) and recommending several changes for incorporation into the final MOU.

This comment is in response to the second panel discussion at today's Technical Workshop in Boston that discussed investments that could be made to the transportation system with revenue generated from a TCI program. There were several examples of electrifying the transportation sector as one type of investment that other regions (Quebec, California?) have made with funds from cap and trade programs. While electrifying the transportation sector decreases carbon emissions, so too does a reduction in VMT. Investments in active transportation infrastructure (walking, biking and transit) would not only reduce emissions, but would also make our roads safer for the most vulnerable users. Redesigning our road network to increase options for people to choose safe walking and biking opportunities would complement electrification and provide needed capital funding to make roads safer for all. It will be important to ensure that TCI revenue reinforces related, complementary policies and systems, as well as working to transition our fossil fuel-based transportation system to a more carbon neutral one.

I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. The transportation sector accounts for a third of all carbon emissions so we must make changes to this sector to avert the worst of climate change. 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.

TCI offers Vermont an opportunity to make serious progress in addressing the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels, not by going it alone, but by joining with northeastern states that represent nearly 1/4 of the US economy. Set up like the highly successful Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, it will provide revenue which can be used to fund greenhouse gas reducing measures in a way that strengthens our economy. I urge the governor to align Vermont with this important regional initiative.

My family has only one car (a hybrid) and uses it relatively infrequently as we can walk, bike or bus most places in town. We would get rid of our vehicle altogether if it were possible to get bus or train service to various places in roughly 5 hrs driving distance (Portland, ME or Western Mass, for example). Currently our only public transit options depart Burlington at 3am (Greyhound) or 4pm (Megabus), both of which are disruptive to travel plans with small children. Our inability to get to and from other cities within Vermont (except by the commuter buses, which run so infrequently that they are not useful for errand running or partial day outings) is another factor. I would love to see the region develop a more robust public transit system between towns, preferably at hours that are convenient not just for those working a 9-5 job, but to accomodate tourists and traveling families.

Please do whatever is in your power to help us & future generations breathe easier & be healthy.
Thank you!

It's a nice idea but I feel it will be a negative impact on some pumps as some pumps relay on gas sales to make money and profits.

In short, we must realize our future (our children's future and future generations from now) on this earth depends how we caretake the fortunes (natural resources) that we have, and we need to courageously need to work to that end. We can see, along with the input from scientists, that there is no greater and crucial time than now to be the responsible caretakers we need to be. Let's do this. Go TCI!