TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This is exactly what's needed. With transportation the sector of the economy now producing the most carbon emissions, it's time to apply a system that will result in a near complete electrification of the automobile fleet.

Travel within Massachusetts, particularly commuting into Boston, has become something of a regular nightmare. We travel several times a week between Worcester, MA, where we live, and Boston or Medford, MA where we teach at Tufts University's different campuses.

My partner takes the train; I drive due to disability issues that make it hard to walk to the train and walk from the train to work. The train is quite expensive, and he has a few times been caught very late getting home (sometimes more than an hour) because of issues with the trains or tracks. Driving sometimes takes a considerable amount of time due to congestion; we worry about the possibility of traffic accidents, given the high rate in the area.

Both of us would prefer if there were faster, more reliable, cheaper transportation. It would be amazing if there were a higher-speed train that did not cost around 25 dollars to take it to Boston and back.

I'm not sure what the exact right answer is, but I know that Massachusetts must lean hard into investing in its infrastructure if we are to sustain increased population growth and a thriving economy. Otherwise, our roads will become more jammed and our air worse. Tempers will continue to flair (Masshole should not be a term!). Why not plan for the future with a state-of-the-art railway? If there were better park-and-ride options here in Worcester, I might be able to partake.

Lots to consider. The only wrong thing to do is nothing.

Thank you for your time!

As a WWII vet I can look back on working on steam locomotives and their pollution. The same pollution that all carbon brings today. That pollution is now showing just how destructive it can be. The possible outcomes that once sounded bizarre have become believable. The time has come to abandon carbon based energy and the engines it powers.
Imagine how destructive that will be as we move to all electric transportation. We must embrace that new technology as we shield all those who gave their lives to providing us with a carbon based economy. This bipartisan project is a welcome first step that is much appreciated.

We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. We urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in mobility options. This is the kind of help the government should be engaged in because the people who are affected can not do it, and private businesses would be looking to make profits.

Governor Mills and the others on this TCI committee are you all completely insane to put together this fuel tax increase on your constituents that are already burdened with more taxes than some can bare? We here in Maine have the highest percentage of elderly and are on fixed incomes and you rich politicians want to add more onto these folks and take more of their hard earn retirement money. You people in this initiative should be helping these people and not putting more weight of taxes upon them. Stop taxing us to death and stop the over spending of money you do not have.

We believe it's essential to adopt a low-carbon transportation policy and build the public transportation network that will serve people throughout the region. We live in a suburb of Baltimore, and we have very few options to get to events in the city or in other suburbs except driving our car. We want to see more public transportation, starting with completion of the Red Line.

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; construction of sustainable and equitable housing near transit; and providing electric bus fleets in urban communities.

We have seen how well electric public transportation works in our vacation travels in Europe. Cities in France have built new streetcar networks, and their success has led to installation of added streetcar lines and completely new systems in other cities. These are comfortable, modern streetcars that take people to work, to cultural events, and to sporting events.

Please write a plan that will greatly reduce carbon emissions and expand public transportation throughout the region.

As a believer that all must be done to curtail human activity induced global warming and climate change it only stands to reason to eliminate or reduce the contributing factors. While many of us did not realize the consequences to the comforts, pleasures and conveniences afforded us through the fossil fuel industries, we now must own up to the harm by reducing and or eliminating greenhouse gases that we added to the atmosphere putting natural forces in chaos. Corporate priorities that have put profit over people has to be embraced along with any scientific approach for decreasing carbon emissions through cap and trade. Transitioning fossil fuel related jobs to sustainable jobs whatever they be has to be part of the plan. People's identity is largely in their jobs and that has to be respected. Steve Hvozdovich Pennsylvania campaign director for Clean Water Action was recognized addressing that component of transition in a recent newspaper article and I commend him for it. Dave Spiglemyer, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition should be identified as a key player in the effort to address global warming and climate change with the understanding that failure in the industry to do its part results in responsibility for future damages. It is time for governing officials to plan using the best available science and tools to address the need to reduce the carbon emissions and come to communities directly involved to let the people know what the expectations are, who is to do what and how. This act could provide an opportunity for educating the public about the physics involved and how human activity exacerbated global warming and climate change. Along with this is the definite need for substituting gainful employment and or retraining options.

Many decades ago in the Lancaster, PA area, electric trucks were used to deliver milk. What happened? We understand the fossil fuel industry sabotaged efforts in electric vehicle production. Let's revisit that era. While I could go on and on about the need for sustainability, the best input I can offer is this: Before anything recommended is done does it match up to sustainability through stewardship? Given the belief that we are of Christian and God loving communities then it is without disagreement that we are mandated to be stewards of Creation. In the February edition of Rolling Stone magazine, Justin Nobel wrote an in depth article, titled America's Radioactive Secret. It reveals how the Marcelllus Shale Industrial Complex continues to destroy peoples lives due to their "catch me if you can" mentality regarding human and environmental health concerns. A war should be declared on climate change and global warming. Declaring war would awaken citizens to the seriousness of the situation and explain the need to consider rationing of energy until balance is restored by controlling human activity production of greenhouse gases. That you for the oportunity to support efforts toward cleaner healthier air.