TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

YES !! PLEASE give us a future with transportation that supports the climate initiative .

As a Massachusetts State Senator, I deeply understand the importance our transportation and infrastructure needs across the Commonwealth. However, there is much debate to be had as to how we pay for said projects. I believe that to impose the TCI fees without a vote from the legislature of the Commonwealth does a disservice to the tax payers that I and my colleagues represent. I ask that the TCI is required to be voted on by the state legislature as a stand alone vote prior to its enactment as a regional agreement. People from all corners of Massachusetts will benefit from a process with greater transparency and accountability.

My name is Ryan O’Malley and I represent Ward 4 on the Malden City Council. I believe it is important to reduce pollution from transportation because it greatly impacts the health outcomes of residents who live near transportation corridors like highways. Malden is entirely an Environmental Justice community and we are also surrounded by highways which produce greenhouse gases and particulates which make our air quality poor. These negative health outcomes disproportionally impacts communities of color, the working class, and the poor.

I would like to thank Governor Baker and his administration for the leadership and drive to join the program. Massachusetts always has and must continue to be a leader for environmental advocacy. I urge the Governor and his dedicated team to select the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target because bold and decisive action now will pay off dividends in the future.

The Commonwealth should prioritize investments in Environmental Justice communities like Malden and areas that are not currently served by public transit. Bus trap is transit is also a great and cost effective way to bring public transit to underserved areas. A local example of a low hanging fruit would be to extend the bus rapid transit program on Broadway in Everett up the rest of Broadway to Malden, Melrose, and Saugus. This project would completely transform commuting on the North Shore by providing a direct connection to North Station. The opportunity to utilize Encore casino mitigation funds should make this a top priority for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Sincerely,
Ryan O’Malley
City Councillor
City of Malden

This needs to stop dead in it's tracks, tax hikes are only going to cripple the working class, and ultimately destroy the economy.

Kathleen Theoharides states the difference between TCI and a gas tax is the point of regulation. This is irrelevant to consumers who will soon be paying more at the pump for this backsliding tax scheme. While taxpayers are the most obvious victims of this situation, individual legislators are greatly affected as well. They are being stripped of their rights and denied the opportunity to carry out the duty they were elected to perform. Taxpayers and constituents deserve better than having such a tax being implemented without explicit legislative approval process. I agree with others that it is a very slippery slope for Massachusetts. Lawmakers from other states in the TCI agreement are seeking legislative approval. Governor Baker’s administration, whether legally required or not, should also act in good faith and seek legislative approval. There must be an open and transparent legislative process on the details of the agreement.

More public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure in rural areas
Expansion of commuter rail, electric vehicles, and streets in the suburbs that are safe, walkable, and bikeable
Sustainable and equitable housing near transit and electric bus fleets in urban communities
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN!!!

Missi Sadler Enterprises, LLC which helps employ numerous people is strongly opposed to the "framework for a draft regional policy proposal" which seeks to expropriate the petroleum marketing industry. Over time this plan proposes to move Virginia from simple rationing and new taxes to the ultimate prohibition of fossil fuels.
This plan does not assess the collateral damage it will inflict on state revenue, local tax collections, Virginia's Transportation Trust fund, and consumers.
Many of the advocates of these policies support regulation to electrify transportation. Those advocates somehow forget to mention that a major component of batteries powering these vehicles is cobalt, 90 percent of which is mined in third world countries under unfavorable working conditions.
As the number of electric vehicles grows, petroleum marketers will likely have to battle for a share of the electric vehicle charging market with utility companies that see EV charging as a new business opportunity without cost. When utility companies install charging stations, they may seek the ability to include that cost as part of their capital investment. When these costs are approved by governmental regulatory agencies, they can then be passed on to all ratepayers as part of their monthly electric bills.
Missi Sadler Enterprises, LLC believes this would provide regulated utilities an unfair competitive advantage that Virginia based small businesses simply cannot compete with. I must economically justify and self-fund at risk investments in new equipment like EV charging stations and so should my competition.
Another likely competitor under this scheme is the state government itself. This is not a concept, as just this past session the General Assembly passed legislation to allow the Departments of Conservation and Recreation, General Services, and Transportation to install electric chargers. Fortunately our association was able to narrow this initiative considerably by limiting the number of state agencies involved and mitigating the threat of unfair competition by requiring the state to sell the power at prevailing market rates including taxes.
All Virginians, particularly the petroleum marketing and convenience industries, support a clean environment. There are many ways to achieve this without rationing. Incentivizing the sale of electric vehicles does nothing to meet your stated goals of "equity, environmental justice, and non-discrimination." As one example, the stated goals could be achieved far faster and cheaper via efforts to assist low-income Virginians to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles that meet current and future CAFÉ standards.
History has proven that rationing followed by prohibition - the ultimate goal of TCI - has led to black markets, unregulated and untaxed sales, and undue burdens on law enforcement.
The impact of these proposals will not be solely on fuel sellers and convenience stores - what about the auto repair industry, muffler shops, service facilities at new car dealers, quick lubes etc.? What about agriculture, construction, Loggers and watermen who will be forced to scrap present equipment or pay artificially high prices due to rationing? What about the consumer who will experience not only higher prices to operate their personal vehicles, but higher prices for consumer goods and services?
The impact of these proposals will completely devastate Virginia’s economics. Recent information predicts an alternative fuel source for Commercial Trucks are 15 to 20 years out, Trucking companies have utilized Virginia interstates I95, I85 and I81 as a major travel corridor for years which allowed the state and individual companies to benefit from them stopping and doing business on these popular travel routes. The proposals will cause the majority of companies to route their trucks around the state devastating businesses.
Missi Sadler Enterprises, LLC opposes the TCI plan to ration, tax and ultimately eliminate fossil fuels.

Maine is a rural state. Many of it's citizens travel 20+ miles to work or to obtain basic necessities. There are no taxi's, ubers, bus routes. It's aging population and traditional industries can not afford higher taxes of any kind much less on gas and diesel. Take Maine out of the TCI!