TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I am a very concerned citizen who believes that the governor's and legislators' resistance to increasing the cost of carbon is very short sighted. The only thing that reliably changes people's behavior in this country is financial incentive. It is actually a very capitalistic and Republican manner of achieving results without the government deciding how it gets done.
TCI does not go far enough to cut carbon quickly, but it is a very important step that can be taken without major economic upheaval. We have endured gas price increases much more drastic than TCI would cause during prior gas shortages or panics. We paid up to $4/gallon not that long ago. When we did, people bought smaller cars and carpooled and used public transit or stayed home more. They had to. That is a price that we should pay now, and use the funds generated to help people who can least afford the price increases to change their mode of transportation and decrease their heating fuel needs. Upgrading vehicles and weatherization for those least able to pay will give them long term economic benefits from the price increases and help VT and the world achieve the needed decrease in fossil fuel use.
If we do not pay the small price now, the cost in disaster mitigation will dwarf the cost of TCI. Even though we are a small portion of worldwide CO2 emissions, Vermont must do its part. Every single portion counts. If we do not do it, everyone may not do it. We all must pay a price for the excesses of the last century or pay a much bigger price later. Delaying aggressive action is like obtaining an extremely high interest loan--it will come due and we will pay for it.
Please approve joining into the Transportation Climate Initiative now.
Thank you,
Donna Smyers

Time is of the essence! We must take steps NOW to reduce the need to fossil fuel use and transportation is a huge part of that.

No more taxes. Maine has to much poor people to pay your extra taxes. And how is taxing the gas more going to help the climate?

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. I SUPPORT THIS POLICY!!

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
WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW TO PROTECT OUR PLANET FROM FURTHER DESTRUCTION FROM CLIMATE CHANGE!!

As a Science Teacher/Environmental Educator, Engineering/STEM Professional, Environmental/Energy/Human Health Advocate, and a concerned citizen, I wholeheartedly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) and demand the most comprehensive program possible: we need improved transportation options, we need polluters to pay their fair share for the damage they are causing, and we need to act now!! Climate change is effecting the Earth NOW so it is necessary that we act NOW!!

I demand a strong program that invests in creating safe roads for biking and walking, more frequent and reliable public transportation, greater access to electric vehicles, and a more equitable system with cleaner transportation options for everyone in the region!

I request Minnesota to join the plan to reduce transportation emissions and fight climate change!
Thanks!

Our outdated transportation system is Maine’s largest source of climate pollution and doesn’t meet the needs of Maine people.
We neede clean, modern, affordable transportation options that deliver economic, health, and climate benefits to local communities.
It makes sense for Maine to work with neighboring states through TCI’s bipartisan, proven policy model.

Thank you for working on this important issue of reducing carbon dioxide equivalent and other pollution from the transportation section. I hope that the policy will have a pollution price high enough to effectively reduce the emissions needed according to the latest science --- that is, 50% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Please ensure that this policy has a strong component of social equity and doesn't hurt rural or low/moderate income people and those same populations have equal access to transport and EVs as anyone else.
I am appreciative that this can be a model for the rest of the country if done correctly. Moreover, it can show bipartisan support for strong action on climate pollutants and can usher the changes in the transportation sector that is so urgently needed. For further information on what states can do, please visit
Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization by Michael Gerrard and John Dernbach, editors:
https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blog/deep_decarb_summary_booklet_online.pdf