TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I live in this region. I am supportive of all initiatives to reduce all types of pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions.

As a Montgomery Country resident and one who until my recent retirement worked in the Tysons Corner, Virginia area, I think that there are several significant measures to improve not only our air quality, but our quality of life.

First, instead of talking about adding lanes to existing and already over crowded roads and bridges, why not build light rail lines that run parallel to these roads and bridges? Why not a circular light rail line that parallels the Beltway and intersects with the existing Metro lines and the soon to be opened Purple Line? Yes, the initial expenditure would be costly, but the improvements in our air quality and the reduction in commuting time and stress would be well worth the expenditure.

Also, if we are going to create livable, safe, clean communities - we need to improve safety for pedestrians. Instead of roads without sidewalks or with intersections that are downright deadly, we need to create roads and intersections where pedestrians (including children and seniors) can cross safely. There are a number of ways to do this - expanding the use of the Barnes Dance (a type of traffic signal movement that temporarily stops all vehicular traffic, thereby allowing pedestrians to cross an intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same time), building either pedestrian over or underpasses across major roads, or do what Barcelona does in the area around the Placa Catalunya (putting the traffic lights midblock, so pedestrians are not competing with cars that are turning.)

Improving our environment and quality of life and alleviating our transportation problems does require investment, but more importantly it requires imagination and a willingness to get rid of the not invented here mindset.

My company, H.N. Funkhouser & Co. is strongly opposed to the "framework for a draft regional policy proposal" which seeks to expropriate the petroleum marketing industry. Over time this plan proposes to move Virginia from simple rationing and new taxes to the ultimate prohibition of fossil fuels.

We also find the push for electric vehicles a joke, because were do people think electricity comes from? It is another step to process and create electricity. Fossil Fuels is a nature substance found in the ground.

Please know we are a 87 year old business in the Shenandoah Valley that provide jobs to over 400 team members.

Respectfully request action to commit to solid scientific action to provide safe and environmentally sustainable means of transportation that will support our environment rather than continuing to degrade the climate. We, as a society, must protect our Earth and stop relying on old school means of transportation. Supporting the Transportation and Climate Initiative will benefit our Society and future generations.
I thank all who work on this initiative. We must work together with respect to forward sustainable initiatives, laws, programs to better and enlarge this world.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kay Clement
North Adams, MA

we need a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions from transportation and it is blatantly obvious our infrastructure needs massive investment. Please support TCI.

I have problems with my property here Vt. Ticks, poison ivy, 7 invasive species of plants, 4 invasive species of bugs. And my state is going to loose much more now this coming spring to more things caused by climate change .
Also we lose ski and our maple syrup industry’s and tourism because people don’t want to go outside to get ticks and poison ivy. Try fly fishing near those areas lots of times the better the fishing the worse those two problems are ( ticks and poison ivy google the facts please) Fly poles and reels go for thousands of dollars and well to do tourists that own them want to stay in nice bed and and breakfasts and hotels. That bring money to this state along with restaurants.
We simply most charge as much as we can for gas and oil from fossil fuels. Those companies that sell gas and propane can start selling electricity and hydrogen to make up for the lost sales . In the end the private sector will thank us all , for saving their businesses and jobs.
If Killington sky area can have 51 EV charging stations. So can other private sector businesses it will bring more money in then lose money.
It’s simple math . Let’s use simple math