TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Gov. Mills, listen to you constituents and DONT sign this into law making our oil and gas products more expensive.

Raising gas prices does nothing but take food from working class families. We already pay excise tax every year on our cars which is supposed to keep our taxes down, we also already have taxes in the gas prices and toll plazas across the state. All of the revenue stream were designed to pay for road repairs. Now every year there seems to be a new bond for more money. Now the state is trying to force you I to a vehicle you can't afford. This is a bad idea in a group of bad ideas

While I agree that we should start taking care of our planet, I can only see this policy hurting Maine people. I wouldn't mind working towards better policies but taxing the most used form of fuel amongst the working class people, does nothing but hinders their economic stance in Maine's economy, I would love to to see more progress made on going green but as a libertarian I don't see increasing taxes as being the answer, making these clean energy cars tax exemptions like solar panels would be a more effective way to win people over.

I’m writing today to recommend that Maine withdraw from this initiative. Citizens can reduce their carbon footprint by lifestyle changes. Taxing fuel will NOT lower fuel consumption it will only cause economic hardship for Mainers. Gov. mill's desire to stay in this program is political, not out of concern for the environment.
The state of Maine economy depends heavily on tourist dollars. If the fuel tax to visit our state is extraordinary, tourist will stay away, thus creating a devastating result to the economy.

While living with an asthmatic, and sometimes suffering from poor air quality myself, I think that everything we can do to improve the air quality in our region is important. Reducing air pollution from transportation vehicles is an important step, and focusing on public buses such as school buses which still typically use diesel engines which bellow clouds of pollution when running cold or not adjusted properly. Exposing children to these fumes is wrong even if it's saving us taxpayers some dollars in costs, it comes back to us in poor health later in life. We also have increasing congestion in our valley from poor planning focusing mostly on development, and freight trucking. The transportation sector could consider how better about health effects of having too many people in an area.

I'd like to see a future with less air pollution, more public transportation, zero or low emission vehicles and walkable / bicycleable communities.

Gov Mills, consider this statement as public record.
I am against the proposed.17 per gallon gas tax. The tax will cause undue hardship on Maine citizens. Residents have an obligation to drive to their jobs, medical appointments, etc. There is little opportunity for them to drive less which is the goal of this tax. Carbon emissions reduction is a life style change. Taxing citizens will not reduce carbon emissions.
I certainly hope this topic isn’t made into a political pawn.
Keep in mind the grassroots organization that is putting the proposed energy corridor on the November ballot. Another grassroots organization could gather enough anger to do the same with this gas tax.

Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. Having not seen one snow flake since the start of the new year, we are seeing climate collapse happening before our eyes! We must make radical changes and totally reimagine the way that we transport people and goods.

I support New Jersey and it's work on a groundbreaking policy to modernize the transportation sector under the Transportation and Climate Initiative.

In order for this regional plan to work, governors of these states and the mayor of Washington, D.C., must ensure that this transportation plan is bold enough to cut harmful transportation pollution at the scale needed to avert the climate crisis. We 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

Please, let's protect the planet for not only our children and grandchildren, but ourselves!

Thank you!

STOP IT! We don’t need any more taxes or fees in Rhode Island. We pay enough! MA already has cheaper gas. Why would you make it more difficult to complete with MA? This garbage is why people are fleeing RI. I can’t wait to retire and move to a state that respects its citizens and supports business and doesn’t look to rip off taxpayers!