TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This is a tax. I’m not that smart and I know that. This failed to pass in MA years ago, but yet here it is again. Had to come with numbers this time, pass it as a group because that makes it legitimate. The Democrats are thieves, plain and simple. Please do not pass this in Maine. Trump 2020.

The American Lung Association in Maine supports Maine’s involvement in the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) as a critical regional effort to reduce the harms of transportation pollution. Transportation pollution contributes to unhealthy air pollution days and a growing public health risk due to our changing climate. By supporting ambitious and achievable regional transportation policy solutions, we can invest in cleaner technologies and support a healthier future.

We need to keep our air clean & climate change under control any bit will help. We don’t want Colorado to be come like some of the big cities around the country.

To disregard the potential dangers of climate change by those with the responsibility and authority to take reasonable precautions to mitigate these dangers is nothing short of a crime against humanity. Certainly, the detrimental effects of clogging our air and water and earth with greenhouse gasses, particulate matter, various chemical byproducts, many of which are toxic not only to humans but other organism in the ecosystem upon which humans rely for their own health, welfare, and even survival, are already reshaping life on the planet. However, it is all too easy to disregard climate change since the effects seem so small and distant in terms of either time or geography (ie a mere 2˚C, or effects which tend to occur in poor regions, or effects that will not substantially impact most people's lives for decades to come). But as moral and ethical creatures, we have an imperative to leave the planet in as at least as good a condition as we first inherited it. It would be breathtakingly selfish, inhumane, and ignorant for us not to act and act swiftly to protect the lives of every single living creature that will ever exist. Yes, that is unarguably what is at stake. The health and wellbeing of every single organism and conscious creature that will ever exist. The number of human beings yet to be born and live on this planet FAR outweighs the number currently living or even the total number that has ever lived. Any hardship or sacrifice we must make, which we should think of as an investment in the health and welfare of our children, our grandchildren, and indeed all of our descendants for as long as our race shall continue to exist, will yield dividends that will dwarf any sacrifice we must make to ensure a safe and habitable future for our species.

As far as how any of this relates to the TCI regional pliocy now under consideration, there are so many steps that can be taken to improve public transportation infrastructure which don't even really require great sacrifice, but will actually improve our current economy and quality of life, which simultaneously benefit the environment and address all of the overriding concerns stated above. For example, rail transportation is much more efficient per passenger mile than car, bus, or air travel. If we made a commitment to using only renewable energy (such as solar or wind generated electricity to power these systems), then we would be expanding the economy to develop new technology, addressing wealth inequality by providing a more comprehensive public transportation system, reducing wasted human hours in inconvenient and inefficient existing transportation systems), and make an enormous contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There are countless examples of efficiencies to be found. Another example is that the more people utilize public transportation, the more we can reduce real estate devoted to roads and parking and create bike paths and greenspace which in turn contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The examples are endless. It is a no brainer. Of course it is a big investment, but it will pay dividends for countless generations to come and most of us will see the benefits within our own lives both in terms of improvements to the environment (air quality in particular), and economic benefits. Please work towards making the most comprehensive, efficient, cost effective, evidence based system that you have the power to make. You have a responsibility not only to your constituency, but to humanity.

We need clean air and reduced emissions. Do what’s right for the health of the American people.

Truthfully, I have no idea where you have gotten this idea from, or what you are thinking.
While many of the public transit "solutions" and feel-good methods you propose might make sense in a densely packed urban area like DC, Massachusetts, ect, in Maine they are terrible ideas, as Maine is largely rural. In fact, with Maine being 89% wooded, the most wooded state on the East coast, I think that these methods are unnecessary. Rural Maine depends on individual vehicles for transportation, and ANOTHER tax on top of what people are already paying will seek to negatively effect an already fragile economy, and burden and ALREADY overtaxed people. Unless over taxation and thus making Maine more difficult to live in is the real goal.
There are many things we all can do to REALLY make the world a better place and our environment leaner and NONE of them involve additional taxation or giving the government more power.
NO new gas tax. NO other taxes either. Clean up your OWN yard before you complain about that of your neighbors.

Not good for Maine or the people that live here. It's already hard enough for the working people of maine to make ends meet, this just adds another financial burden for a problem that doesn't exist in our state.

The Transportation Climate Initiative has proposed using a cap-and-invest approach to reduce pollution from the transportation sector.This is a carbon pricing approach. While theoretically attractive, there are a number of practical reasons that carbon pricing will not work as theorized: In addition, The Regulatory Analysis Project (RAP) recently completed a relevant study: "Economic Benefits and Energy Savings through Low-Cost Carbon Management for Vermont" that raises additional relevant concerns. Other relevant concerns are discussed in the well-written attachment provided. I implore you to read it thoroughly, incorporating the points raised in your planning process.

The citizens of Maine can not afford this ridiculous new tax on fuel. I demand that Governor Mills and the Democratic majority withdraw from the Transportation and Climate Initiative like three other states have done already.