TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Hello, Transportation and Climate Initiative team,

I very much appreciate Virginia’s efforts to reduce transportation emissions, which are a major contributor to climate change. And as a mom and fellow Virginian, I would implore lawmakers to consider more aggressive targets, which are essential for us to be able to reduce emissions enough to decarbonize before climate change is irreversible. Please consider at least a 25% reduction target over 10 years for all registered vehicles.

Please make zero tailpipe emission investments a priority. We all want our kids to grow up in with healthy air to breathe and a stable, healthy climate. Please act aggressively while we still have a window of opportunity to turn the tide on climate change.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kay Campbell
Albemarle County resident

Another tax on the working class while the politicians fly around on private jets

In order for the regional plan of the Transportation and Climate Initiative to work, governors of these states and the mayor of Washington, D.C., must ensure that the transportation plan is bold enough to cut harmful transportation pollution at the scale needed to avert the climate crisis. We, the people of New York need a plan that holds large transportation polluters accountable for the pollution they create and invests in clean transportation solutions including:
--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
We want to see a bold and ambitious plan to cut transportation pollution in New York State and in the Hudson Valley bioregion and beyond.
Thanks for your attention and hoped for positive action.

The TCI is nothing but a tax grab by Baker and The Commonwealth. What are they going to do with the money, build windmills? I voted for Baker because of his party affiliation; now I know that he is nothing but a RINO and (so) I have no representation in this state for my political views.

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.

I have been urging our local government agencies—especially the police dept. and school system—to seek VW 'Dieselgate' reparations money to at least begin testing battery-electric vehicles. I'd like to see climate/energy legislation that mandates a gradual changeover in municipal and state vehicles to electric power.

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

My attached comments address multiple concerns. I believe that costs must be addressed before any jurisdiction can decide whether to join the TCI. Contrary to the statements saying that there has been “extensive” public input to this process I show that the only segment of the public that is even aware of this process has some sort of vested interest in transportation and climate planning. I addressed each of the components of the framework and finally discuss some implementation issues based on my extensive background in cap and trade programs.

I took the time to prepare this comment because I don’t want this program to repeat the implementation problems associated with the Acid Rain Program’s emissions monitoring system. I was involved in the EPA reporting from the start of that program and would not wish that experience on anyone. My advice is to keep the requirements as simple as possible and minimize the total level of effort needed to submit and track emissions.

I would be willing to discuss this topic with appropriate staff if there are questions or comments.

Thank you.