TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I am concerned about the cost of this initiative and would like to know the expected cost increase to a gallon of gasoline.

You’re not fooling anyone. This is a government “fee” that is going to be passed onto consumers so call it what it is, a TAX.

Adding any additional tax burden to Rhode Islanders is a terrible idea. We already have some of the highest taxes in the nation and yet the state is a fiscally run nightmare. This is nothing but a taxpayer funded money grab in the name of climate change only.

I have traveled a great deal, in the U.S., Europe, and less affluent countries. It always strikes me that in Europe the broad swath of the population feels comfortable taking the fast, clean, safe, and ubiquitous public transportation, whereas in third-world countries the public transportation is poor, filthy, slow, and often dangerous -- and the air is deeply polluted by the inefficient cars and trucks on the roads. The United States leans toward these latter conditions more than it does toward the former. Our roads are increasingly congested, our air is less safe to breathe, and we are contributing unconscionably to climate disaster. We need a complete overhaul of our transportation system and a public relations campaign to turn our citizens' minds toward using public transportation -- and toward that end, it needs to be fast, safe, reliable, and ubiquitous.

I live in an area of extreme pollution from transportation sources: right next to I 84 and on the street which empties into I 84. I call it " living between the highway and the freeway". I notice the remarkable connection between low income, poverty, and homelessness that surrounds this entire area...
We need a big switch in priorities to allow all people who share this city to have the same clean air as do those who can pollute more to live farther away from the city by driving their cars further! MORE POLLUTION FOR US!

The fossil fuel party is coming to an end. The planet can no longer tolerate our profligate use of this amazing resource. In order to curb carbon emissions it is beyond clear we need better ways to transport ourselves, including goods and services. I strongly urge you to adopt a comprehensive plan that incorporates infrastructure upgrades to rail lines and a strong move toward electric vehicles, use of bike lanes and pedestrian friendly options for travel. It would be nice to live in an era where cars and trucks are not the first mode of getting from A to B. We need to do this NOW.

I believe the proposed TCI is a useful starting point for action on carbon reduction but not nearly aggressive enough. To actually effect a critical reduction in VMT the "price at the pump" needs to start higher with assurances it will go even higher.
There should be explicit measures to address the inequitable hardship on low-income and rural households using some portion of the auction income to cushion this inequity. I hope Pennsylvania will join in this regional effort.