TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I live in a rural community with little public transportation. Like many residents of my community, I and my husband are elderly. We are presently totally dependent on our car, but at 85, I'm not likely to be able to drive much longer. We cannot access what little public transportation is available except by car. The nearest very limited bus service is two miles from our home, too far for us to walk. Some sort of house-to-bus transportation service will ultimately be the only way many in our community will be able to access stores, medical providers, recreation venues, etc. To supply short-distance transportation without undue adverse pollution and increased carbon-footprint we will need electric vehicles to service our community. At this time there are no charging stations in our town.

Don't involve Maine in the TCI; gasoline and diesel are already quite heavily taxed here (over $0.30/gallon of gasoline, not including the $0.184/gallon federal tax). Some estimates suggest that TCI would add another $0.20/gallon to the cost of gasoline; $3 per fill up! Don't do it.

Don't let people outside Maine decide how much we get taxed. These kinds of invasive decisions should be left to the people in congress that we can hold accountable with our votes.

Maine ranks 33rd in median household income. Maines largest cities have 70,000, 40,000, and 35,000 people. Our "urban centers" are not comparable to urban centers in MA, CT, NY, etc. High paying professional jobs are far and few between around Maine. Don't make it even worse by making it harder to do business or afford to live here.

No more taxes. No more fees. No more assessments. No more fines for being alive.

Governor Mills gas tax is not a reasonable option for Maine! Nothing needs to be done about carbon emissions in this state period!

The people cannot afford to spend more money our budgets are pushed to the limit as it is. If we keep giving things away to immigrants and we pay this State will definitely go straight into the hole again.

TCI is unwanted, un-needed and if it is to be considered must go thru proper legislative channels. These commie back door no vote tactics are an attempt to kill the economic and political fabric of Massachusetts. More open honest debate is what is needed not less.

CO2 is required for life and taxing fuel for the benefit of the elite is an immoral act akin to genocide.

https://www.zerohedge.com/article/cap-and-trade-gigantic-scam

The TIC should not be implemented without the vote of the legislature at best. The taxpayers voted against a gas tax in the past and if given the choice I’m sure would vote against it again (which may be why you’re trying to sneak it through without a vote) There is plenty of scientific evidence that doesn’t support climate change and we shouldn’t be forced to fund it.

I don't think this is the final answer, but in the interim we need initiatives like this one to lead to other bigger more sustainable forms of transport.

A <$0.20 tax per gallon of fuel is a drop in the bucket, and I hope it's an easy win to fund better transport.

Expanded reliable bus service is a start, but a high speed train such as the one between Connecticut and NYC would be amazing with service between NJ and NYC. I know there is a train right now but it has far too many stops, is too slow, and too expensive (I take a bus into the Port Authority every day instead, but the traffic sucks!).

In addition to increases in gas taxes, we need to increase tolls on the roads between NJ and NY and CT and NJ and CT and NY.

Please do not include the state of Maine in the TCI. As many Mainers do, I live in a rural part of the state, and travelling via car is necessary. I travel 25+ miles one way once a week to get our groceries and do our banking etc. “Raising” the price of gas is just going to force me to shop online, so I don’t see how anyone in Maine will benefit from this. Your irrational thought that cause & affect will limit people’s driving in the state of Maine is incorrect. All this will do is increase the cost of living to those living in rural Maine. Your desire to be a leader in this area is short sided and borders on ignorance. Have you totally sold out to outside special interests already??