TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Attached, please find a letter congratulating Gov. Hogan and his administration on their contributions to the TCI policy framework and the development process.

Attached, please find a letter congratulating Gov. Wolf and his administration on their contributions to the TCI policy framework and the development process.

Attached, please find a letter congratulating Gov. Northam and his administration on their contributions to the TCI policy framework and the development process.

Disincentives to single person automobile travel such as a substantial increase in gasoline taxes complement the cap and invest mechanism of the TCI.

To minimize the regressive nature of such a tax there could be an exemption to persons or families earning 250% times poverty level, or perhaps 60% of median income for the state.

People who qualify would be given a transponder and gas stations a transponder reader. The upfront set up cost would be borne by the state then reimbursed from the tax revenue.

In 2017 Massachusetts drivers used 2,700,036,000 gallons of gasoline according to the EPA.

Approximately 25% of Massachusetts residents would qualify for an exemption using the above means testing.

A 50 cent increase would net a bit over 1 billion dollars a year after the exempt population is discounted. This money would go to infrastructure and public transportation.

As revenue falls when more people switch to EVs or take public transportion the could be a surcharge; either means tested or, by miles driven to keep the infrastructure and transportation investments funded.
II wholeheartedly support the TCI

Hello, my name is Jared Fernandez and I am an individual based in Massachusetts. Though not based in the great state of Maine, I travel quite often to the state via train and car.
I'd like to strongly express my support TCI, and loudly applaud Governor Mills for participating in the regional design process.
I firmly believe that the policy as currently constructed reflects the best and latest available science on climate emissions from transportation -- and ultimately, if we are not basing policy on science, then the policy is faulty.
It is also critical that the policy have a strong component of equity that ensures that low-income, rural, and aging populations are not hurt by this program.
I love that TCI is largely a bipartisan issue -- but also want to express my concern with many of the comments put forward by people with oil & gas industry associations, as well as those who simply argue that any attempts to address our communities contributions to climate change are somehow a form of corporate greed or government authoritarianism. When we look back at this juncture in history in 50 years, do we want to admit that we fell for misleading industry talking points and avoided taking action to address the greatest threat facing our communities, economy, and ecosystems? I strongly encourage all policy makers to rise to the occasion and ensure TCI becomes a reality.
As a state, Maine spends an average of $5 billion annually on oil and gas that leaves the state economy and goes into the hands of giant fossil fuel companies. Maine will not meet its climate goals, nor will any other state in the Northeast region, unless they can tackle transportation emissions.

Some part of TCI revenue needs to be disbursed to EV infrastructure associated with affordable housing. It could be grants to affording housing developers for charging stations, grid tied or solar. There could be Additional rebates toward EV purchase or lease for low income families, especially ones that are underserved by public transportation or that live in affordable or low income housing.

TCI is an important collaboration between eastern states to combat climate change. Some part of TCI revenue needs to be disbursed to EV infrastructure associated with affordable housing. It could be grants to afford housing developers for charging stations, grid tied or solar. There could be additional rebates toward EV purchases or leases for low income families; especially ones that are under served by public transportation or that live in affordable or low income housing.

I look forward to better public and side walks and road conditions for public transportation, the ability to walk or bike to the belchertown court house, library, senior center, grocery store and. Town buildings. I look forward to incentives and education of preventing clear cutting and innovative controlled new building renovation laws with solar panel or new technologies for all government town and state building, new construction and renovations, protect all conservation areas and field and forests. Solor and new technology use over parking lots private and public and buildings. Protection of all wetlands and vernal pools. Dprotction of underground water.

Sustainable Tourism Opportunity
One of the few threads of commonality among the northeast states is their interest, investment, and dependence on tourism. The state of New York is developing a world-class sustainable tourism product called The Empire State Trail where the Governor and his DOT partners are building 400 mile bike and pedestrian trail. All because the Erie Canal Trail brings in over $250 million a year. Every year. More such places are needed.
The longest rail trail in the northeast is contained totally in the small state of Massachusetts. A state with a highly dense population that is either near this trail—or is in a community with a developing rail trail that is connecting directly with this region’s signature trail. The Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT) is 104 miles from Boston to Northampton.
There is also another long trail terminating in Northampton. The New Haven to Northampton Canal Greenway Trail. 84 miles long. Every few years, there is what is called a Golden Spike Event, a conference about the developing MCRT and the tie-in to the New Haven to Northampton Canal Grenway. In July 2018, that event, GS2018 was held at Northampton. Here’s a link to the conference booklet produced for the event. Here’s a link to all the presentations—town by town from the event.·
This trail is highly marketable to families originating from either Boston or NYC to go for a week’s vacation and then take the train back to their home city. This will be the greenest vacation opportunity imaginable. Attached is an infographic that quantified the usage and $$/ of that one trail.
More details about the MCRT
• Around the same time that NY began to buildout the Empire State Trail, Governor Baker in Mass became a big fan of multi-use trails. He created the Governor’s Trails Team. An internal, inter-agency working group was formed and they’ve done a lot to develop the network here. In fact, the Governor and other top level staff have been in high profile ribbon-cuttings and ground breakings—all over the state.
• This past week another ½ mile opened in Ware under the stewardship of a visionary land trust. East Quabbin Land Trust is both a linear thinking and a rectangular thinking land trust. While saving forests, farms and open space parcels in their service area, they also have acquired and developed over 4 miles of the of MCRT and have renovated 4 former railroad bridges into being safe for families on this trail alignment.
• Another six miles opened in Weston and Wayland two weeks ago.
• The MCRT now has over fifty miles open with over 80 miles in a protected ownership status. This is a tipping point.
• Mass DOT hired a consultant this winter who began a detailed look at the missing gaps from Berlin to the west side of Belchertown where the Norwottuck section of the MCRT terminates at Warren Wright Road.
• The study looked at three primary issues.
1. Who owns the land.
2. What are the physical impediments [like missing bridges and sold-off corridor]
3. What are the work arounds to piece together the missing gaps. This study is about to be released.
• And here is the biggest, high altitude, take-home. Building an end-to-end, community-long, multi-use path like this transforms the place to be greener and more sustainable. It also leads to more sustainable businesses in a community. Local businesses. It has been said that the indicator species of life in a downtown is the number of bikes and pedestrians you see. If you don’t see many, it is because the community is too auto centric and the down won’t prosper. Having the trail there will start to transform the community. It will also become a place where neglected, forlorn, blighted residential properties near the trail become attractive places for millennials to purchase, renovate and launch a renaissance in a neighborhood that probably needs a new breath of interest.