TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I live in a city clogged with traffic. The MBTA has fairly comprehensive service but it is unreliable and will require massive reinvestment. The stalled traffic degrades air quality and unnecessarily consumes fuel. The TCI promises relief which will be worthwhile even though the solutions are complicated and expensive.
Boston is also a seaport town which is already vulnerable to king tides. In the past the city has flooded from rain soaked hurricanes and severe storms. This is going to get worse. We need to plan now to mitigate carbon emissions. The TCI a necessary part of this mitigation.

We've known for decades that the current climate crisis was coming, but lacked the public will to act. Now we have our backs to the wall and must take bold, decisive action if we are to have a fighting chance at reversing our current trajectory. Modest measures won't do. Leaders must lead and communicate to their constituents the financial costs of doing too little or nothing, which will be in the billions or trillions of dollars. We CAN shape the future to correct for our past short-sightedness.

Thanks,
Thom Adorney

Yesterday I saw a two-year old boy with his third asthma attack in three months. After he failed to improve with treatment in my office I sent him to the Emergency Department, where he was started on his third course of oral steroids in twelve weeks. He was placed on strong preventative medication to continue indefinitely. In a single clinic day earlier this week I treated three children with Attention Deficit Disorder and one child with a learning disability.
We know from decades of research that air pollution from the combustion of oil and gas for transportation directly harms the health of our children. Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion harms children's lungs, causing asthma attacks and bronchitis, as well as potentially life-long reduced lung capacity. Air pollution also affects our brains, contributing to cognitive and behavioral disorders in children and Alzheimer's disease in adults. Reducing these pollutants is vital to protecting the health and future of our children and all members of our communities.
That is why I strongly support this policy to reduce air pollution from the transportation sector. This policy would have tremendous health benefits through reduced air pollution. By 2032, the public health benefits of the proposed program could reach as much as $10 billion, and reduce as many as 1,000 fewer premature deaths, and over 1,300 fewer asthma symptoms annually.
As a pediatrician, I strongly support the proposed policy.

I request that the following be included in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI):

1. A cap on carbon emissions of at least 25% by 2032
2. An increase in the minimum investment in overburdened and underserved communities (>35%)
3. hat investments be put towards active transportation like better sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, and high quality public transit

Thank you.

-We must reduce pollution from transportation: it is our largest source of global warming emissions at both the regional and national level.
-I request that Virginia formally join the plan to reduce emissions.
-Our policy must have a strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution, as well as for those who don't have access to clean investments.
-I am thankful for the bipartisan nature of this project. It is a positive move forward, at a time in which the Federal Government is unfortunately taking us backward.

As a part of other plans I propose a quadrupling of the market price for gasoline. The price above manufacturer's cost (including cost of capital) to be awarded to public transportation. In time this will improve the efficiency of transportation and thus reduce harm on the climate.

As a believer that all must be done to curtail human activity induced global warming and climate change it only stands to reason to eliminate or reduce the contributing factors. While many of us did not realize the consequences to the comforts, pleasures and conveniences afforded us through the fossil fuel industries, we now must own up to the harm by reducing and or eliminating greenhouse gases that we added to the atmosphere putting natural forces in chaos. Corporate priorities that have put profit over people has to be embraced along with any scientific approach for decreasing carbon emissions through cap and trade. Transitioning fossil fuel related jobs to sustainable jobs whatever they be has to be part of the plan. People's identity is largely in their jobs and that has to be respected. Steve Hvozdovich Pennsylvania campaign director for Clean Water Action was recognized addressing that component of transition in a recent newspaper article and I commend him for it. Dave Spiglemyer, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition should be identified as a key player in the effort to address global warming and climate change with the understanding that failure in the industry to do its part results in responsibility for future damages. It is time for governing officials to plan using the best available science and tools to address the need to reduce the carbon emissions and come to communities directly involved to let the people know what the expectations are, who is to do what and how. This act could provide an opportunity for educating the public about the physics involved and how human activity exacerbated global warming and climate change. Along with this is the definite need for substituting gainful employment and or retraining options.

Many decades ago in the Lancaster, PA area, electric trucks were used to deliver milk. What happened? We understand the fossil fuel industry sabotaged efforts in electric vehicle production. Let's revisit that era. While I could go on and on about the need for sustainability, the best input I can offer is this: Before anything recommended is done does it match up to sustainability through stewardship? Given the belief that we are of Christian and God loving communities then it is without disagreement that we are mandated to be stewards of Creation. In the February edition of Rolling Stone magazine, Justin Nobel wrote an in depth article, titled America's Radioactive Secret. It reveals how the Marcelllus Shale Industrial Complex continues to destroy peoples lives due to their "catch me if you can" mentality regarding human and environmental health concerns. A war should be declared on climate change and global warming. Declaring war would awaken citizens to the seriousness of the situation and explain the need to consider rationing of energy until balance is restored by controlling human activity production of greenhouse gases. That you for the oportunity to support efforts toward cleaner healthier air.

I encourage Maryland government to endorse and enact the policy directions laid out by Transportation and Climate Initiative. The transportation sector produces approximately 38 percent of all climate change pollution in our state. It is urgent that Maryland and neighboring states take the lead in facing climate change and committing to timely actions. The policies proposed by The Transportation and Climate Initiative will provide a solid framework for encouraging necessary changes!

Governor Mills and the others on this TCI committee are you all completely insane to put together this fuel tax increase on your constituents that are already burdened with more taxes than some can bare? We here in Maine have the highest percentage of elderly and are on fixed incomes and you rich politicians want to add more onto these folks and take more of their hard earn retirement money. You people in this initiative should be helping these people and not putting more weight of taxes upon them. Stop taxing us to death and stop the over spending of money you do not have.