TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I live in a city clogged with traffic. The MBTA has fairly comprehensive service but it is unreliable and will require massive reinvestment. The stalled traffic degrades air quality and unnecessarily consumes fuel. The TCI promises relief which will be worthwhile even though the solutions are complicated and expensive.
Boston is also a seaport town which is already vulnerable to king tides. In the past the city has flooded from rain soaked hurricanes and severe storms. This is going to get worse. We need to plan now to mitigate carbon emissions. The TCI a necessary part of this mitigation.

Transportation is a major contributor to climate change, and climate change is already devastating our planet. Meanwhile, clean transportation is better for the environment, for our health, and the economy. Public transportation in particular is crucial to our state's future success. Please support clean public transportation and legislation to promote green transportation options. Support the Transportation and Climate Initiative!

I oppose TCI. No tax through executive order. Cut spending. Rein in abuses at DMV, DCI and check on abuse to welfare.

This TCI proposal is nothing more than tax increases disguised as "doing good". Raising the gas tax for a supposed carbon reduction is a hoax, pure and simple. No evidence has been shown that this gas tax increase will reduce carbon emissions, just speculation. How will this money be used? I think we all know the answer to that: WASTED!! Also, the legislature should be involved in this, as the people's representatives, not some executive order at the request of some unknown organization. Is the legislature being cut out because TCI knows it will fail? I believe that is the case. Masschusetts' taxpayers and residents should not be forced to pay for something that is not proven and not substantiated.

We need to transition away from our petroleum-based economy as soon as possible. The TCI is a step in the right direction. I encourage Governor Baker and the legislature to formally join the TCI program as soon as possible. Revenue from the TCI should target clean investments into communities with the greatest environmental burden and public transit.

After careful consideration of several aspects of the TCI I have several comments.

The verbiage around the act and it’s purpose is light on details about funding formulae and the amount of control given each organization. Will representation be pro rata - with New York and Pennsylvania controlling most of the money or will it be an organization of equals- where Rhode Island is on equal footing with New York.

Although the carbon fees, which let’s face it are taxes, are punitive. Most of the benefits for this will be the urban areas where there are more transportation options. People living in rural or exurban areas tend to have to spend more for motor fuels because of the need to travel greater distances. This group receives the least benefit but will probably pay more per vehicle. I also did not see an exemption for farm uses of diesel and gasoline.

Politically, their may be issues with the state governments allowing the fees to be collected and turned over to a non-governmental entity over which they do not exercise direct control. Also there does not seem to a sunset clause that would require the agreement be actively voted on for renewal. And, in the past, Massachusetts politicians have been less than honest about which programs will actually receive the money from certain taxes.

As a tax payer in this state I do not think it is up to the governor to make this decision. We should be able to vote on it.

I have lived in rural areas in the Northeast and would like to see changes in the school bus systems in rurala reas. Huge amounts of money are spent and lots of emission per rider. If schools got grants only for EV vans and EV buses and for charging stations and solar panels at the school, there could be reductions in emissions and costs over time, especially if adults could purchase cards that let them ride on partially empty buses. The costs could be sliding scale and adults could be CORY checked and trained to be bus monitors if needed. This would provide bus transport and help defray the cost of school busing in areas where no public busing or few vans for Seniors or disabled persons exist.