TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I watch friends, coworkers, even peers in a medical treatment program, walk long distances or miss commitments because they are reliant on what is currently the Massachusetts public transit system. Rides are unreliable and buses infrequent. I would rely on buses more if they came more often, and on time.
I also wonder if a difference could be made simply by eliminating idling engines in parking lots—leaving the air conditioning on in the summer, heat in the winter, while going into a store for 10-20 minutes.

The whole concept of TCI is simply another tax implemented to fund excessive and irresponsible government spending. We do not need nor can we excuse the terrible waste in government already. Most people living on fixed incomes are already hurting from outrageous healthcare costs, increasing food prices, living costs and taxes. To add any gas tax will increase the cost of all goods delivered by truck, rail and air. This would be irresponsible on all accounts. Furthermore, there is no proof of a climate change threat. Indeed, just the opposite based on historical data. This is just another Tax and Spend initiative that will again hurt Maine citizens. May God save us from politicians influenced by lobbyists and their money. This reminds me of the reasons why we are subsidizing wind power. Ridiculous.

At a recent energy and climate action conference one of the speakers suggested that "we need carrots, sticks and tambourines" to get the seemingly impossible and at very least difficult task done of getting off of fossil fuels and moving rapidly to a sustainable future. I applaud the desire to implement some sort of stick in fossil fuel pricing but hoping that there would be a carrot to make more people jump towards a the sustainable side.

Can you bring the tambourine along to highlight this as well as drive an initiative towards development?

My idea revolves around the fact that there are far too many cars traveling with only one person in them. It is particularly difficult to have people in rural settings think of alternate transportation other than their own personal vehicle. Why not develop an app that is akin to a "hitch Uber" where everyone can be an Uber driver or rider by simply going through a process of verification and review? Drivers and riders could receive some sort of compensation or reward for sharing their trip and ultimately lowering their carbon footprints. This makes essentially everyone a mass transit driver/rider and could develop into a network where connections could be made at major intersections to help interested riders make their final destination. This idea can grow organically once there is some adoption but could be quickly incentivized by an organization or government with the capability to review and make a safer integration for all concerned.

Thank you for this work and of course we need collaborative policy initiatives like this and much more. Right now, the well-off can buy our own way into the lowest carbon options, but they are expensive and out of reach of most people. Developing fair and comprehensive solutions that not only force change but are economically accessible is the real trick.
Gary Stern

As a parent, a voter, and a person who follows energy and environmental issues, I hope efforts will be made to lessen emissions from transportation - one of the the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. I hope NYS will join in a plan to reduce transportation emissions. Scientists tell us we have a decade - or less - to act to avoid climate catastrophe. Ice will be gone from the arctic this decade. We face a sixth great mass extinction. And atmospheric CO2 is increasing at twice the rate of 30 years ago. We are moving rapidly in the wrong direction to preserve a planet for our children. I hope a strong program might be developed that promotes and invests in public transportation, and encourages biking, jogging, and walking, with lanes and routes for safe pursuit of those activities.

Please vote no to extinguish this initiative. I am on a fixed income and cannot afford another tax, fee, or any other reduction of my income by Massachusetts government or non government means.

Thank you,
Rian Murray

I am proud of our great state of Massachusetts and its record to increase renewable energy. However, I stand firmly against TCI, and I do believe that if states followed our lead, then this proposal would not even be necessary. I think that Governor Charlie Baker should bring this proposal to the Massachusetts legislature for a vote.

Dear Governor Mills. Please do not do this. Maine is already one of the highest taxed states in the nation. We, the hard working people can not afford more taxation. Trucks move Maine. When tou raise the cost of doing business it causes the cost of all goods and services to rise. This in turn hurts the poorest of poor most. In addition Maine is already one of the cleanest states in the nation. Stop this foolish political posturing and do the right thing. Don't drive more Mainers over the New Hampshire border. Thank you for your consideration.