TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

The impact of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is causing a plethora of human health and environmental problems to OUR Earth. TCI can alleviate many of these stressors. Leaders should choose the best option to target greenhouse gas emissions, and TCI is the only option. This is especially important for areas that do not have transportation access.

We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. I urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in mobility options.

Dear Sirs,

I strenuously object to the TCI proposal as it undermines our Constitutional protections against taxation without representation. Calling something a fee is a tax by another name. All tax proposals MUST be generated through the legislative process and our elected officials in the Legislature. The TCI proposal is an "end run" around the voters of this state who would otherwise reject this proposal.

I urge a rejection of this unconstitutional proposal.

Our Commonwealth can lead the way forward on Transportation, thanks to the plan Governor Baker would like to put into effect. If we can’t dramatically reduce the amount of pollution from our transportation industry, we will be in even worse shape regarding Climate Change. Please take the need to dramatically reduce CO2 levels seriously and use this initiative to get us to Net Zero in the Transportation Sector by 2030. Please prioritize our State’s “environmental justice” neighborhoods because with this issue, as usual, those contributing the least to the problem are impacted the most- in this case, we need public transportation that is clean and renewable.

It is critical that Massachusetts addresses its climate emissions! Transportation emissions are 40% of the state’s overall climate emissions. Thus, it is important that we tackle them and I am glad there is an effort to do this. Whatever we do, though, has to be effective and based on science, has to be equitable and must require an honest assessment of the challenges ahead.

Honesty
Starting with honest assessments, the current proposals are described as cutting transportation emissions by 25%. A quick look at supporting TCI analysis documents shows that the state’s business-as-usual transportation emissions are expected to drop 19% over a decade. But this is actually the rosiest possibility. It might only be 6%. On top a very optimistic expectation of business-as-usual transportation emissions, if the TCI process reduces emissions an additional 6%, then, we would get 25% reductions. But states are being asked if they want to reduce emissions 6%, 3% or only 1% over business-as-usual transportation emissions. So, 25% reductions over a decade is based on totally rosy numbers (business-as-usual reductions of 19% and the states all choose bold(?) action to get an additional 6% reductions. Actually, the results might, with equal probability, only be 7% reductions over a decade, or less!

How can have an honest conversation in the state about TCI if TCI proponents are providing misleading information about emissions reductions? Information must be transparent and honest. In this era of misinformation and given the seriousness of the effects of climate change, we cannot afford to be less than honest with ourselves about the potential results of different efforts to address climate change.

Effectiveness
The TCI process must provide policy options that address science-based requirements for climate mitigation which limits global warming to 1.5C over pre-industrial levels. That will require emissions reductions around the globe and in Massachusetts on the order of 40% of current emissions levels per decade. The TCI process is only considering efforts to reduce transportation climate emissions by 1%, 3% or 6% over business-as-usual emissions reductions, over a decade. And we have no assurance at all that business-as-usual emissions reductions will be significant. This is totally unacceptable! We need much steeper emissions reductions than those TCI is considering!

Equity
The TCI process must assure that policy options that address transportation needs in each state are equitable in the sense that they address the impacts policies on low-income communities, environmental justice communities and other disproportionately affects groups. Policies must address equity regarding access to public transportation, cost-effectiveness of public transportation, traffic congestion and its effects, the reduction of transportation climate emissions and related health impacts, impacts on access to new jobs, access to greener transportation options, and access to greener automobile technologies.

We need to be honest about the magnitude of the problem, the effort needed to solve it and the impact that our policies are having. That TCI has created a consortium of states trying to act in concert to address climate emissions from transportation is laudable. Now it needs to step up to the challenge and design effective and equitable policies to address it.

The time has passed to do something and take credit for it. It is time to stand up for our children and do what is needed.

To Whom it May Concern: I am opposed to the Transportation and Climate Initiative because it is not the role of government to protect us from climate change. The purpose of government is to protect our individual rights as the Declaration of Independence says. One does not have a right to an unchanging climate.

Also, the TCI is unjust. Why should people from Springfield pay to protect the people of Boston from rising sea levels? Why should Massachusetts residents pay to protect say, Floridians from more hurricanes? Why should anyone sacrifice for others - shouldn't people take responsibility for their own lives and move to a better place or otherwise protect themselves from climate change. TCI is the exact opposite of personal responsibility - by forcing responsible people to sacrifice for irresponsible people it makes it harder for responsible people to protect themselves!

The government should not play any role in the climate change debate. If people want to protect themselves from climate change there's nothing stopping them. Please don't force us to sacrifice to somehow stop climate change.

The TCI is a major step forward toward a greener United States. The Initiative not only makes sense from the perspective of mitigating damages that will be caused if the crisis gets worse, but it also makes sense economically. Transportation is one of the largest sources of pollution in my area, and the significantly higher rate of asthma we experience is no coincidence. This negatively detrements public health in the least just way possible, in a system where those polluting the most brunt the least of the consequences of their action, and those who have the least to do with the status quo continue to be those most negatively impacted. The positive feedback loop of health issues and poverty is perpetuated not least by the catastrophy of unregulated, often subsidized pollution caused by the transportation sector. This legislation is not the blanket solution to these deep rooted societal issues, however, it is the most significant step in the right direction proposed thus far. I encourage parties in power to strongly consider the TCI, and encourage everyone to harness the power of civil engagement and advocate for long overdue environmental justice.

There is no more important issue than climate. I want to see the TCI move forward rapidly, I strongly support it. This winter has been 8 degrees above normal, the ground has never frozen. Let's lead on this issue!

Dear Governor Baker:
I applaud your initiative to take aggressive action to reduce transportation emissions. Scientists say that we do in the next 10 years will make the difference between a liveable and an unimaginably bad climate. There is great urgency to bring down emissions, because we've waited so long to get serious about tackling the problem. This isn't a reason to give up, it's a call to get more aggressive.

We must build modern, fast, affordable public transportation to and from Boston from semi-rural areas like Plymouth in order to get people out of cars. I used to live in Newton and work in Cambridge. A year or two before I retired, we moved to Plymouth in search of affordable retirement housing. Commuting from Plymouth to Cambridge was a nightmare, 2 hours each way when travel to the Kingston train station is included. I found the commuter rail an overall pleasant if costly experience. Including parking and MBTA to Cambridge, it was about $29/day. How many workers can afford $145/week for commuting? No wonder the parking lot never filled up. We need more trains and cheaper fares, and you'll see train ridership spike up to capacity.

I also strongly support dedicated bus lanes on route 3 for the Plymouth & Brockton bus company. How about electric buses? Adding buses requires a lot less capital than enhancing rail lines -- though we need to do both. The bus is another attractive way to get to Boston from the Cape and South Shore, but buses clogged in route 3 traffic degrade the experience. If you drive alone, there isn't any of the thrill of the open road you see in car commercials. Commuters would gladly ditch cars if they could have fast, affordable buses that get them to a South Station that has fast, reliable service to Boston locations. It is absurd to expect the MBTA to fix existing problems and make capital improvements while being saddled with the debt of the Big Dig. The MBTA should be subsidized by the state to make it better. Long term, maybe the MBTA is unsustainable, but it's the way I got around in Boston the 6 years I lived there without a car.

We also need to encourage EV vehicles, with more charging stations and better incentives. The $7500 fed tax credit is gone for the most popular EV cars - this sends absolutely the wrong message. EV vehicles could be allowed to use the fast bus lanes.

I know the south shore best, but such transport improvements are needed in the entire state. Fast train from Boston to Worcester? Outstanding! Congestion pricing on the Pike? Yes!

So I support TCI and more. Thank you for showing leadership.

Sincerely, Linda Lancaster
South Shore & Cape Chapter, Citizens' Climate Lobby