TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Pollution from transportation sources is the largest source of global warming emissions both regionally and nationally. To tackle climate change, it is imperative to reduce pollution from transportation sources. I would like Virginia to formally join the plan to reduce emissions
It is very important that the policy have a strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access.

I am grateful to you for the bipartisan nature of this project, moving us forward while the federal government moves us back.

Please support development of a low-carbon regional transportation system. We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. We urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in mobility options. Time is of the essence in addressing these pressing issues that are facing our communities.

We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. We urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in mobility options. Your actions and inactions regarding this and all related concerns have been, are being and will be remembered by all of us who will live in the world that you are shaping with your decisions right now, in addition to being a matter of public record. We are all on it together. Environmental emergencies affect everybody, and will do so for generations to come. All other issues need to be considered as facets of the critical state of the biosphere.

TCI could be well served to consider climate implications of a range of currently utilized U.S. transportation fuels and fuel switch solutions, based on Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, EPA and California longstanding efforts to reduce transportation emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. In the absence of metrics, the solutions proposed or modeled may be high cost and low impact. If TCI would like help there are a range of technologies that could be considered that could reduce emissions far greater than 19% over a decade. With transportation carbon targeting solutions looking at bang-for-the-buck or taking a greenhouse gas reduction as a metric strategy, deeper cuts could be seen on a faster timescale. Public sources of information from California Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a good peer-state guide. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard is the other long evaluated public tool tracking real metrics. Consider goal of tracking and reducing transportation greenhouse gas emissions with a wider all hands on deck approach rather than limited strategies and see if a TCI model can seek larger benefit for the public good. Consider a policy that has a larger emissions reduction strategy in the region such as 25% and continual evaluation. TCI materials miss a lot of science of transportation emission studies and additional advisors could help the TCI team. Clean transportation investment options seem pretty limited and could use peer review from state clean transportation programs. In Virginia our clean fuel program at Virginia Clean Cities reduces 175,000,000 tons annually and TCI should revisit 2032 goals of 62 total possible million metric tons reduced in 25% scenario to see if this regulatory action could meet or far exceed current single state voluntary annual emission reductions programs - considering the baseline of clean fuel programs goals could be increased with full coordination with DOT and Energy agencies or checking back at assumptions.

Thank you for working to reduce transportation emissions in Virginia and beyond. My feedback is that we should consider reduction targets beyond 25%, and that investments should be allocated in a way that prioritizes zero tailpipe emissions solutions.

We ALL need Clean Air! I developed asthma while living in a smoggy area. Lost productivity and increased healthcare needs are FAR more expensive than good transportation planning!

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

I like the railroads to do the job; they are less polluting particularly if run by eletricity as most on the NE corridor are

Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. That means it's time to totally reimagine the way that we transport people and goods.

The states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and the city of Washington, D.C., are working 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

I live in Bedford, VA, that does not currently provide options for public transportation. I am a senior citizen with a medical condition that may not allow me the privilege of driving a personal vehicle for the rest of my life even though I may be able to continue to live reasonably independently with some occasional assistance. Having access to public transportation would enable me to continue to do what I need to do as well as improve the quality of life for the planet and all of its inhabitants. I totally support the effort to provide an Amtrak train station here in Bedford as well as providing public transportation in some other form that will permit individuals of all physical capabilities to travel throughout the Town / County of Bedford as well as the surrounding region including Lynchburg and Roanoke.

Sustainable and convenient transportation is greatly needed. We need to get more cars off our roads to help reduce carbon emissions. Convenient and reliable public transportation is needed to help our citizens who cannot afford or have problems maintaining a personal vehicle. I have recently downsized to one vehicle for our household and would use public transportation more if it was convenient. Let's reduce the number of cars on our highways to help with climate change and the stress that congestion brings to our citizens.