TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Most automobiles are idle about 98% of the time. This has climate impact in the embodied energy in the car and associated carbon emissions are not recovered. I would recommend that the following actions to create a lower-carbon transportation infrastructure be seriously analyzed and the best candidates implemented:
- improved bus transportation networks using the cleanest and most reliable powerplant technology - e.g. electric, fuel cell, hybrid.
- free car sharing apps so that citizens can self-organize into carpools
- light rail lines where they can be well-utilized
- improving existing rail and subway systems
- planning for autonomous cars that would eventually replace personally owned cars with anew model of "transportation-as-a-service"
- subsidized bicycle lanes and trail systems
- research viability of publicly available electric scooters and bicycles and how to deploy them safely
- promotion of free public/private transportation apps that determine the best modality and routes for destinations throughout the Northeast

As a 4th year medical student receiving a Public Health degree, I support TCI because climate change is real, it is occurring now, and it is having significant health and quality-of-life impacts on people both around the world and in my state. Fighting climate change is the right thing to do ethically and economically.

I feel very strong that now is the time to make all city transit buses electric, make the roads safer for bicycles and pedestrians to get to and from work and play. Job creation in these sectors will help our economy as well, from maintenance to other related jobs that can arise from this transition to clean power and energy. Light electric rail lines are needed out to UConn from the coast and Hartford. There is a large commuter population that drives only! Tap our local college grads and hire local throughout the state to keep these grads in CT and raise their families. We are loosing by people because of the high cost of living. My children cannot afford to live here!

Underground or electric wires need to be contained in some kind of ground level system that is safe and easy to repair. We don’t have to bury them. The existing lines are wasteful and dangerous during storms.

Solar needs to be addressed in new and better ways including the ability to install our own panels or Co-op share in neighborhoods.
I agree that action going forward need to be bold and agressive to turn CT into a climate leader and create new jobs in ALL of our communities: black, Latino and white. Let’s lead the way.
Thank you.

The State of New Jersey continues to burden its residents with additional taxes because the state government is not capable of budgeting based on the amount they have coming in to finance the state. Continuing to pass tax increases because they don't know how to spend responsibly is Economics 101 and obviously they never attended the class. So lets increase the cost of living in the state and loose more people as they vacate their homes. So, with this great idea of more taxes on those of us that are on a fixed senior income, will we get a senior discount at the pump? I'm sure our governor would be happy to assist those of us that continue to pay more than our fair share.

VT Buses need to be electric, and there are a lot of areas they don't go. Expand the routes by sending out questionnaires to all residents. We VTers need better access to commercial bus-lines, rail (e.g., Montrealer, etc.), and airlines. There needs to be transportation to Burlington and Montpelier (the East side of the state is woefully neglected). How about bus lines, etc. accepting debit/credit cards instead of change? How about interstate transportation (e.g., St. Johnsbury to Littleton, Hanover, Lebanon, NH). In France they have a rapid/quiet train system which rides on opposing magnetic fields -- this would be a wonderful update for some of the U.S. rail systems (esp. the Montrealer).

Governor Mills is ruining this state in record pace. Tax, tax, tax is all I hear from her. In all honesty I wish she could be impeached. We already pay an outrageous amount of taxes on gas and diesel. Governor LePage managed to save a huge surplus AND payoff the state's debt without this. #ImpeachMills #Lepage2022

On behalf of the American Lung Association, I am writing to express our support for moving forward with a thoughtful program design that affords the greatest benefits to local community health. The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) is an important regional effort to maintain progress in the fight for healthy air and a healthy climate, and one that must place community health and climate protection at the forefront.

Please see the attached letter for our full comments on the proposal.

Maine is one of the most rural states in the country, with most people traveling for work. I’m 26 years old with an engineering degree and I must travel 110 miles from home to work. Taxes are not the answer, as we are already one of the top taxed states in the nation. If we continue to impose new taxes on Mainers you will not have to worry about charging stations because most people are going to leave. What we need are companies brining jobs to the people.

In a Rural State this will destroy Retired Individuals & the State is less than one percent of the world population. This will have No effect on the Whole World