TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Material submitted through the TCI Public Input form from April 2019-February 2021 is viewable here. View input submitted from March 1, 2021 forward here. All material submitted on this page informed the participating jurisdictions in the 2019-2020 TCI regional policy design process. Click on the column headings to sort the submissions.

Date	First	Last	Affiliation	City	State	Input	File
2/28/2020	Allen	Schaeffer	resident	Frederick	Maryland	While noble in objective, the TCI is fundamentally flawed and most disturbing in that it pre-supposes an outcome- that electrification is the only and best solution for reducing GHG emissions from... read more While noble in objective, the TCI is fundamentally flawed and most disturbing in that it pre-supposes an outcome- that electrification is the only and best solution for reducing GHG emissions from transportation and all public funds should go to that. Through its funding approach - cap and invest - essentially, robs Peter to pay Paul. It seems to deem ineligible near term and proven solutions like low carbon transportation fuels - such as renewable biodiesel fuel- that deployed at scale in the region could reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent -- in a timeframe that would likely be DECADES faster than electrification at scale, since all the biofuels infrastructure is essentially in place today as are the vehicles that when using it would deliver the benefits. Switching electric power generation to full scale renewables is not a given, which fundamentally weakens the premise of TCI. off shore wind and solar are coming along but not without major hiccups and setbacks now and who knows what in the future. Until then the region will be trading tailpipe emissons for smokestack ones since natural gas generates the majority of electricity in the region, and in some states far more than others. IF - and it is a big IF -- any regional confab on climate should exist at all, no duly elected official should ever support anything but a cap and trade framework- where many solutions and technologies compete. That is the best way to achieve progress in such a diverse region on such a challenge in such a timeframe.	-
11/2/2019	Ann	Schaer	none	Waldoboro	Maine	I support increasing clean transportation in the form of electric school busses, which have the added advantage of decreasing exposure to diesel fumes for our children, and increasing electric... read more I support increasing clean transportation in the form of electric school busses, which have the added advantage of decreasing exposure to diesel fumes for our children, and increasing electric charging stations to facilitate the use of electric vehicles. I support the use of rebates to encourage the purchase of electric and hybrid cars. I also support a program to reduce carbon emissions from combustion engines by cap and invest programs or other financial measures.	-
10/31/2019	Paul	Scharping	Republican	Shapleigh	Maine	As a retired veteran on a fixed income, I think this plan is just another way to exact a tax on the citizens of Maine. Until my retirement from the army and my social security get cost of living... read more As a retired veteran on a fixed income, I think this plan is just another way to exact a tax on the citizens of Maine. Until my retirement from the army and my social security get cost of living increase to cover all the additional taxes and fees, there should be a freeze. Work on spending controls and prioritize what needs to be done. Spend only what you actually have in the bank!	-
1/16/2020	Conrad	Schaub	no affiliation	New York	New York		-
11/8/2019	Grant	Schaumburg	Boston citizen	Boston	Massachusetts	No climate benefits will result from this tax. Any reduction in emissions will reduce future temperature increases by a minuscule amount. It's a regressive tax increase masquerading as a... read more No climate benefits will result from this tax. Any reduction in emissions will reduce future temperature increases by a minuscule amount. It's a regressive tax increase masquerading as a feel good measure.	-
2/24/2020	Carolin	Schellhorn	Saint Joseph's University	Ardmore	Pennsylvania	We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as much as possible. This should have happened a long time ago. At this point in time, we are facing a climate emergency. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as much as possible. This should have happened a long time ago. At this point in time, we are facing a climate emergency.	-
2/22/2020	Barbara	Schelstrate	Virginia citizen	Arlington	Virginia	I am thrilled that my state is one of those supporting the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Let's ensure that Virginia is at the forefront of efforts to combat the worst effects of... read more I am thrilled that my state is one of those supporting the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Let's ensure that Virginia is at the forefront of efforts to combat the worst effects of climate change, and perhaps even to turn climate change around.	-
10/28/2019	Jenny	Scheu	Ms.	Portland	Maine	Development of low carbon public transportation is incredibly important to our city of Portland ME and our region.... AND to our global future. Thanks for your work on this implementation... Development of low carbon public transportation is incredibly important to our city of Portland ME and our region.... AND to our global future. Thanks for your work on this implementation.	-
2/22/2020	Roger	Schickedantz	Mr.	Charlottesville	Virginia	I support public transit options that promote an electrified economy, moving away from fossil fuels and the resulting pollution and climate impact. In particular I urge support of solar and wind... read more I support public transit options that promote an electrified economy, moving away from fossil fuels and the resulting pollution and climate impact. In particular I urge support of solar and wind renewables and hydrogen.	-
2/24/2020	barry	schiller	self	North Providence	Rhode Island	Though retired I still drive, use buses and trains, bike, and care about my community. The TCI should improve all of the above. For climate change I would prioritize electrification of our... read more Though retired I still drive, use buses and trains, bike, and care about my community. The TCI should improve all of the above. For climate change I would prioritize electrification of our region's commuter rail, connecting the bike paths to the urban core, and changing car fees so more polluting cars pay higher fees.	-
12/1/2019	Bill	Schineller	Working commuter and taxpayer	Sudbury	Massachusetts	Gas tax is regressive - proportionally punishes those who can least afford it - those who must travel longer distances to jobs because they can’t afford housing in pricey metropolitan area. From... read more Gas tax is regressive - proportionally punishes those who can least afford it - those who must travel longer distances to jobs because they can’t afford housing in pricey metropolitan area. From CommonWealth Magazine: “ The proposal would mimic a gas tax in that it would raise the price of gasoline.” Please don’t disguise a gas tax with a new name “cap and invest”. Reduce government waste, and fix loopholes to ensure that ultra-rich are not paying a lower effective tax rate than the lower and middle working classes. Use that money to improve mass transit e.g. electric buses on convenient routes. Only then will commuters opt to leave the car at home.	-
2/24/2020	Glenn	Schlippert	Conservation Voters of PA	Etters	Pennsylvania	Reducing pollution from transportation is a key component to reducing Pennsylvania's emissions. Public transit investments that could be made with TCI proceeds would be valuable. Leaders... read more Reducing pollution from transportation is a key component to reducing Pennsylvania's emissions. Public transit investments that could be made with TCI proceeds would be valuable. Leaders should choose the aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target that the most recent climate science tells us we need. I urge that the policy prioritizes clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don’t have access to transportation choices. Too many of our public buses and trains run on dirty energy and contribute to air pollution and climate change. Many trains, buses, and stations haven’t been retrofitted in decades. For many people in rural parts of our states, there are zero viable public transportation options, which forces them to drive. By making polluters pay and creating a dedicated source of funding through TCI, we’ll finally be able to move our state to a 21st-century regional transportation system that is cleaner, more reliable, more accessible, and more affordable. We’ll see less traffic, thousands of new jobs, and less dangerous air pollution. All communities — whether urban, suburban, or rural — will benefit. Our air is making too many of us sick — and if history is a guide, it’s not going to get better on its own. We need to take bold and concerted action to reduce the carbon impact of our transportation system, and TCI’s combination of using pricing policies that discourage polluters and modernizing our public transportation system will do exactly that.	-
1/19/2020	Elaine	Schmerling	Village of Ardentown	Wilmington	Delaware	We need more and better public transportation, to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. Also, our roads are too crowded already, as population is growing, we need more people to take... read more We need more and better public transportation, to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. Also, our roads are too crowded already, as population is growing, we need more people to take public transportation - but it is not always convenient enough, we don't have enough of it.	-
1/16/2020	E and O	Schmidt	grandparents, concerned citizens	Ithaca	New York	Faced with a climate crisis, there is no choice going forward: We must reduce pollution from transportation, our largest source of global warming emissions both regionally and nationally.... read more Faced with a climate crisis, there is no choice going forward: We must reduce pollution from transportation, our largest source of global warming emissions both regionally and nationally. Each state, including our own New York, must join the plan to reduce emissions. It is imperative that the policy have a strong component of equity, making sure that there are clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access to transportation. We also want to express appreciation for the bipartisan nature of this project to move us forward, while sadly our federal government moves us light years in the wrong direction in an atmosphere of enmity rather than recognizing that we are all in this together!	-
2/21/2020	Phyllis	Schmidt	Ms.	Wilmington	Delaware	Smaller, local buses into large neighborhoods such as Fairfax. Fairfax people have to walk long distances to the Concord Pike and/or Foulk Road to get a bus to downtown. We could have small... read more Smaller, local buses into large neighborhoods such as Fairfax. Fairfax people have to walk long distances to the Concord Pike and/or Foulk Road to get a bus to downtown. We could have small buses at Thomas Rd and Fairfax Blvd; at Murphy Rd; Fairfax Blvd and Concord Pike at the small end of the shopping center, and at Fairfax Blvd and the bridge between Fairfax and Oak Lane Manor.	-
2/26/2020	Lissa	Schneckenburger	Vermont tax payer	Brattleboro	Vermont	Please please please join the TCI program, our economy and the health of our state depends on these important funds! Please please please join the TCI program, our economy and the health of our state depends on these important funds!	-
1/17/2020	Hope	Schnee	Ms.	Rockville Centre	New York	Transportation is one of the largest sources of pollution and emissions which contribute to global warming. New York State should join in policies to reduce pollution from transportation, improve... read more Transportation is one of the largest sources of pollution and emissions which contribute to global warming. New York State should join in policies to reduce pollution from transportation, improve more efficient and clean avenues for transportation and modernize our current mass transit system. It is incumbent on us to limit our carbon footprint and transition to a post-fossil fuel world in the face of climate change and global warming.	-
11/7/2019	Wolfger	Schneider	Retired engineer	Charlotte	Vermont	I'm told that: TCI is a multi-state plan to cap emissions from the transportation sector, auction off permits to distribute fossil fuels in the participating states and use the auction... read more I'm told that: TCI is a multi-state plan to cap emissions from the transportation sector, auction off permits to distribute fossil fuels in the participating states and use the auction revenues to invest in low-carbon transportation solutions. This approach, if understood by me, seems to lead to scarcity followed by higher prices (an indirect fuel tax/fee). Where's the equity in this? I'm also told that: Despite RGGI’s success regionally, carbon pollution is rising in Vermont (as I suspect is so in other states). The increase is driven primarily by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, our cars and trucks. As I look around the parking lots, I see larger and larger automobiles and pickup trucks every year with the concomitant worse mileage in most cases. Manufacturers' pursuit of greater profits push for larger vehicles for safety and indirectly for status. Since we wouldn't want to/can't limit vehicle choice, maybe we should have a CO2 mileage levy on each vehicle that is dependent on annual mileage driven, and EPA mileage rating. This levy could be established at the annual inspection from odometer readings and be progressive with the EPA mileage rating, so that unnecessarily large vehicles in effect pay more for the mostly unnecessarily greater CO2 emission. Mileages could be reported to the DMV and car registration renewal would be dependent on the payment of the levy.	-
1/28/2020	David	Schneider	Town Resident	Branford	Connecticut	We need to reduce greenhouse gas on every front to create an environment to meet the basic needs of clean air, pure water, viable soil for plant life and food supply, and David the sustainability... read more We need to reduce greenhouse gas on every front to create an environment to meet the basic needs of clean air, pure water, viable soil for plant life and food supply, and David the sustainability of all life forms that enrich life on Earth. Sound transportation strategies, building strategies, community planning strategies, etc. designed to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve these objectives for a healthful future for the generations to come.	-
2/26/2020	Wolfger	Schneider	Better not Bigger Vermont	Charlotte	Vermont	I support the TCI but would suggest a few modifications/enhancements: 1. Do not exclude non-fossil fuels from the cap. Ethanol and biodiesel have a large CO2 production component from... read more I support the TCI but would suggest a few modifications/enhancements: 1. Do not exclude non-fossil fuels from the cap. Ethanol and biodiesel have a large CO2 production component from fossil fuels. 2. It is important to let the public know how the revenue will be used to be able to sell the TCI. The revenue should not be used only for changing our transportation modes. More CO2 reduction may be possible by supporting buttoning up lower income resident's houses for example.	-

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