TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Connecticut needs to improve its transporation system. Rather than "more of the same", there should be emphasis on cleaner alternatives. Use of fossil fuels must plummet if we are to prevent the worst effects of global warming.

We need more charging stations if electric autos are ever to become mainstream. We need electric school buses and city buses to clean up the air our citizens breath every day and reduce noise in our communities. We need better rapid transit if we're ever going to reduce the traffic in bigger cities and help their centers thrive and prosper. It's especially important for our children's health now and as adults.

We should look at electrifying most or all rail lines. Again, it would mean cleaner air and quieter trains. Another big benefit is the electricity can come from green sources, as quickly as they can be brought online. Trains powered by electricity are the norm in Europe and Japan, and there were many here in the US about a century ago, for example in the northern Rockies. We made a poor choice when we switched to diesels, although it seemed to make economic sense at the time.

Thank you for your consideration.

The time is overdue for our state, and the rest of our nation, to take major steps to clean our air and water. This is important for those living today, and future generations.

As an aging woman with grandchildren, I am concerned about the future. I support a strong, well-designed Transportation and Climate Initiative that provides infrastructure for fossil-fuel-free transportation, considers young, old, and disabled people, and provides good jobs, clean air, and a brake on runaway climate change.

Rather than take money through a fee that is when viewed appropriately a gas tax. Promote the growth of the economy, businesses and people are fleeing the state of Massachusetts. Stop looking at the people as an ATM for the government.

It is important that a transportation and climate initiative cut harmful transportation pollution at the scale needed to significantly reduce the climate crisis. We need a plan that holds large transportation polluters accountable for the pollution they create and invests in clean transportation solutions. For example, we need more public transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure in rural areas, and we need charging stations for electric vehicles in urban areas so it becomes feasible for urban apartment dwellers like myself to have an electric car. We also need expansion of commuter rail, electric vehicles, and streets in the suburbs that are safe, walkable, and bikeable. Expansion of bike lanes, wherever feasible and safe, is needed. We need to assure that sustainable and equitable housing are accessible to transit and electric bus fleets in urban communities.

I along with many other stakeholders and voters in the state of Maine would like to see a shift from highways and gasoline to clean modern electrified rail transit. This is the most efficient form of transportation and least polluting. When coupled with green power from Wind, and Solar, electrified rail can be 100% clean and carbon free. We have all the infrastructure in place in Maine to connect all our major cities and also through to other states and countries. We have wasted year spending huge amounts of our money on car and trucks and pavement and highways. We need to put in immediate moratorium on all highway expansion projects like the Gorham connector and Sanford connector and Turnpike expansion. All revenue generated by the tolls on the Maine Turnpike should be sent to the Norther New England Passenger Rail Authority, for expansed service to Rockland (immediately), and also to Lewiston/Auburn expansion via the St Lawrence Atlantic (state owned line) to the gateway terminal in Portland. We should also expand passenger services up to Augusta, Waterville, and Bangor. Longer terms expansion should be the reconnection of services on the Mt Division RR to northern New Hampshire. Passenger service from Lewiston to Quebec Via , Oxford, Norway and Bethel and the White Mts. Other expansions should include restoration of all current freight lines throughout the state. Charge tractor trailer trucks entering our state to pay very high tolls $100 per truck and put that money into freight service restoration. Reduce airport expansion in Maine instead put those millions into passenger rail service. Invest in electrified rail service with modern fast passenger unit that have 20+ trips per day between services. Stop building more and more parking garages in place like Portland. Charge a per car fee to enter the city. Use that money for rail. Raise the Gasoline tax by $1.00 per gallon and put that into Rail with local connecting bus service. Consider return of street car services on some areas, other areas use electric buses. Stop wasting huge amounts of tax payers money on Autonomous car technology. Driving 4000 lbs of metal on a asphalt roadway is not the future.

I just think it's very important that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible. I'm 20 years old today, and the thought of the world I'll have to raise my children in terrifies me. It's something I find myself thinking about more frequently with each passing year. We need to do something and we need to do it now. And we need to ensure that we prioritize the distribution of those resources to the folks most impacted by a changing climate. I'd love to see Pennsylvania formally be a part of the TCI. I hope it isn't too late, and I believe in my heart that it isn't.

The whole concept of TCI is simply another tax implemented to fund excessive and irresponsible government spending. We do not need nor can we excuse the terrible waste in government already. Most people living on fixed incomes are already hurting from outrageous healthcare costs, increasing food prices, living costs and taxes. To add any gas tax will increase the cost of all goods delivered by truck, rail and air. This would be irresponsible on all accounts. Furthermore, there is no proof of a climate change threat. Indeed, just the opposite based on historical data. This is just another Tax and Spend initiative that will again hurt Maine citizens. May God save us from politicians influenced by lobbyists and their money. This reminds me of the reasons why we are subsidizing wind power. Ridiculous.