TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I urge that Vermont participate in the Transportation and Climate Initiative as a step toward reducing our transportation carbon footprint. We may be a small state, but we do have an impact, and with 44% of our carbon emissions coming from transportation, this is a critically important step.

Traveling regularly to Keene, NH, I am constantly aware of the insufficiency of our public transportation system. If we had buses traveling between Brattleboro and Keene, I would be taking them. TCI could mean that all of us would have better public transportation infrastructure, and fewer of us would have cars on the road.

I'm aware that there is resistance to TCI because of the burden that increased prices on gas would put on poorer Vermonters, who often must drive to jobs that are often far from home, and who can't afford to buy an electric vehicle, even with incentives. If done right, TCI can ease these issues, rather than becoming an added burden for poor Vermonters. I urge that funds received by Vermont through TCI be directed into programs that help poor Vermonters with transportation needs. This means that public transportation should be treated as a public good and be free or very inexpensive, incentives for fuel efficient cars should be means-weighted enough so that someone who is driving a third-hand gas-guzzler can afford to replace it. Vermonters with accessibility needs (who are often among the poorest of us) must also have their needs put foremost, and accessibility should be a primary consideration in building out new transportation infrastructure.

Again, I urge that Vermont formally join TCI, and take this critically important step toward a cleaner energy future and an improved transportation infrastructure that will benefit us all.

Sincerely,
Karen Saunders

In May of 2018 the price of a gallon of gasoline was $2.90. That year the economy grew by 3%. The stock market was booming and the great Recession was in the rear view mirror of most Americans.

It is now 2020 (an election year) and Phil Scott is reluctant to address climate change solutions. As he recently stated he was, “not looking to come out with something dramatic.”

According to VT. Digger, “Some Republicans have raised concerns about the 12-state Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), and called its system of fuel pricing a ‘carbon tax.’ Under the agreement, which would include Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, fuel prices could rise by as much as 17 cents per gallon.”

The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) describes itself as a bi-partisan, “regional collaboration of 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia that seeks to improve transportation, develop the clean energy economy and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The participating states are: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.”

With all due respect Mr. Scott I’d be more than happy to pay $3 a gallon for gasoline if I knew that extra revenue was addressing long-term commitment to climate change initiatives. I suspect that many of the 76% of Vermonters who support real action on this vital issue might also be willing to tolerate this increase.

It wasn’t until gasoline went over $4 a gallon Vermont in 2011 that myself and many of my neighbors started changing our habits and to car pool and find alternatives to our gas guzzling ways. Good governance, in this instance, is about applying force on the market to encourage consumers to take climate change as the primary issue it is. What good is an affordable Vermont in a world that burns?

Vermont should be leading these 12 states not putting the brakes on real change and action.

We need to reduce greenhouse gas on every front to create an environment to meet the basic needs of clean air, pure water, viable soil for plant life and food supply, and David the sustainability of all life forms that enrich life on Earth. Sound transportation strategies, building strategies, community planning strategies, etc. designed to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve these objectives for a healthful future for the generations to come.

Reducing transportation sector emissions is important to me because I'd like to leave a cleaner Earth for my grandchildren. I would like to
thank Gov. Lamont for being involved in the regional design process and request that Connecticut formally sign on to the initiative. We need the TCI leadership to choose the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions cap since we have already lost precious time in our environmental efforts.
I'm also asking TCI policy has to include equity and investment in overburdened and under-served communities as a first and foremost priority.

Please move forward on this initiative since we have little time to mitigate the worst consequences of planetary warming!

I would like to thank Gov. Lamont for requesting that CT formally sign on to TCI.
Reducing transportation sector emissions is important to me because of the dire climate situation which is largely driven by transportation C02. The climate crisis is UPON us, here and now, and we are losing time to do everything we can to mitigate the losses to come. It is also important to address social justice, since poor communities bear the brunt of climate problems. We have already lost decades in making the broad and unprecedented changes that are needed. Please do everything you can.
Please choose ***the most aggressive**** greenhouse gas emissions cap.
Any TCI policy should address equity and investment in overburdened and under-served communities as a first and foremost priority.