TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

It's adding tax on me a guy who owns a small business which uses a vehicle to get around this isn't helping anyone except janet Mills feel warm and fuzzy follow the money she is lining her pockets enough is enough we are already in the worst business climate !!

It's exciting that Maine and other states are passing legislation to address pollution and climate change since there are stalls and roadblocks currently at the federal level. I am particularly interested in moving towards use of more electric cars and buses that could be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. I'm happy that TCI is focusing on both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping with access to (public) transportation for underserved communities.

An increase in gas taxes will in turn increase the cost of transportation and goods to the consumer. This will hurt those of us on a fixed or minimal income.

I’m asking you to work for bold changes to the outdated infrastructure in New England. Utilizing existing rail infrastructure and supplementing it with public owned light rail and electric busses will go a long way to give more people access to travel, reduce greenhouse gases, and enhance the tourist economy. Imagine high speed rail from Boston to Moosehead or Boston to Bar Harbor.

I find it completely irrational that the govenor would even entertain the idea of raising prices on gas when the cost of living in most of maine is getting preposterous. I'm a 24 year old male. I have a good job and I work full time. With that being said even with my partner paying half of our bills we barely have enough pay our bills and save anything to progress our life beyond renting. I know I'm not alone when it comes to these kinds of financial situations, and I'm one of the lucky ones without student loan debts! The cost of living for us young people is already pushing us from the state. If you want the state to flourish we must take care of the young people who will be responsible for it sooner rather than later. We are the ones who suffer inevitably.. I Make over $40,000 a year and I'm struggling I'm not even close to drowning in debt and my friends of which who have student loans have to actually stay with their parents because they cannot afford their bills and their rent. The last thing we need is a higher taxs on gas. All that does if funnel money to the government and does absolutely nothing for the people. If you want to reduce emission (in one of the lowest populated states??) Propose bills that actually have to do with making a change towards a cleaner alternative. Not just something that will widen the gap from us normal people from middle class to the wealthy.

Please keep working towards greener transportation and climate controls for Maine's citizens. We need to be the change we wish to see in the world. Creating carbon emission caps on transportation will force us a society to find cleaner methods and solutions for our transportation. Thank you for your efforts and considerations.

Transportation in Maine is the largest contributor to climate pollution. In our town energy audit, transportation contributed approximately 70% of the greenhouse gases emitted in our town. At the same time, traditional industries in Maine are being impacted by the changing climate. That will only accelerate in the future. However, Maine alone can't modernize our transportation system. It needs to be at least a regional initiative.

Unlike other more populous states we don't have the population density that supports mass transit outside of Portland and Lewiston. At the same time the average income is Maine is less than in other northeast states. Solutions that work in Maine will help inform approaches outside major cities in other states. Electric vehicles cost 1/3 as much to operate as gasoline powered ones. We need a way to solve the lower range and higher initial cost.

I am a long time Geo Metro driver with my husband operating all electric cars for 10 years. I know poor people in Lewiston who want to work in Portland, but have no way to get there. I volunteer at the Gathering Place in Brunswick where many people need cheap transportation to Lewiston, via bus or train, but it's not available. The public needs regular bus routes between Lewiston and Brunswick so L/A residents have access to the major job source and services in Portland. Maine must reactivate the train line between Auburn and Portland to connect the two major urban areas of the state. Middle class workers will use this line, since it's much pleasanter, more affordable, and lower Carbon impact to ride instead of drive that distance.
I live in Topsham and support Governor Mills participation in the regional planning for greener public transportation in Maine. This plan must incorporate the most recent and best science on climate emissions from transportation. Transportation policy must be fair and inclusive for elderly, poor and handicapped people in Maine. This large group of Maine residents do not have private transportation and many need regular, affordable transport between Lewiston, Brunswick, and Portland to help meet their basic needs for essential services.
I am delighted and thankful that this policy planning includes both Republicans and Democrats, since it will work out compromises of cost, and practicality that will best serve Maine people and have support in the legislature to be enacted.
I am in the process of moving from 14 miles south of Bath to center of Topsham in order to reduce my driving time, climate impact, and costs. I am still able to walk the 1.4 miles to downtown Brunswick, yet will be working for cooperation between Topsham and Brunswick to extend Brunswick's good bus system to Topsham. This is one urban area which is only half connected via public transportation. Traffic congestion is moderate and growing both bypassing Brunswick and from Topsham to Brunswick and could be alleviated with an extended bus system. A regular bus system between Bath and Brunswick is greatly needed, since affordable housing in Brunswick is unavailable and very limited in Bath. Low income people who have no cars cannot get to work or housing between those two cities. The Brunswick Explorer bus has adapted and responded to need to transport students and refugees to and from the old Navy base at Cook's Corner.
Lanes for bicycle traffic should be established between urban areas and along scenic routes, as this can be both affordable transportation, good for people's health and reduce congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions. Topsham has started this process of making a safe walking/biking path along the bypass connector between Rt 1 in Brunswick and Rt 196. When completed many Topsham residents will be able to walk and bike to the Topsham Fair Mall.
For decades I have wanted a dial in ride sharing system to be created using people's smart phones to schedule shared rides to work. The state and BIW have done this with vans for some of their workers. This concept could be applied to private vehicles with thought given to screening people in the system for criminal records. The state cannot guarantee safety of people using such a system, yet the potential to reduce gas miles driven is huge. Perhaps towns could create a register of screened drivers with insurance who are willing to share rides. Maine can build on our small town culture of looking after one another, and take better care of our isolated elderly and poor residents with such a service. I am part of a volunteer network of drivers with New Mainers who take non English speaking residents of Brunswick to their twice weekly English classes in Topsham. this involves scheduling about 15 drivers with 20 or more residents and setting up phone communication for cancelations. Such transportation is also provided, or connections to the bus systems, for people to attend essential meetings in Portland. BIcycles have also been given to every adult at Brunswick Landing who wants one, and training provided in bike safety and practice biking to the library.
Mostly I would like to see commuters sharing rides to minimize Carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion and free up parking in urban areas. Thank you for this long needed subcommittee to design sensible transportation systems. Please look at European rail, and other public transport systems for adaptation to Maine's transport needs.