TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. I support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. This transportation plan must be 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.

TCI attempts to bypass the democratic process by pushing through a tax increase without forcing the legislature to take a vote. I do NOT agree with any process that bypasses legislative procedure. Our elected lawmakers should be debating and voting on these decisions. There can be no tax increase without a legislative vote. That would be the very definition of taxation without representation. NO TO TCI!!!

A cap on carbon emissions of at least 25% by 2032
An increase in the minimum investment in overburdened and underserved communities (>35%)
Request that investments be put towards active transportation like better sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, and high quality public transit

My name is Shaniya Davies. I go to Weaver High School in Hartford Connecticut and I'm an intern with the Transport Hartford Academy. I've been researching the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional effort to reduce pollution, improve transportation, and develop clean energy. We want to see more people care about climate change.

Last summer, our organization surveyed over 800 people who live and work in CT who believe our state should adopt TCI. Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, mostly because of how much we drive cars - so we need better options. For TCI’s investments, 92% of our survey respondents want to see CT Improving existing public transportation, including buses, trains, and dial a ride, while 91% said expanding /Improving sidewalks and bike lanes to provide safe alternatives to driving should be spending priorities.

As a teenager with asthma who gets around mostly by walking and taking the bus, public health, walking safety, and transit service are big concerns that TCI investments can help us address. Many people in my community have health issues in their systems.

I have asthma and there is too much pollution. Asthma is a serious thing to deal with people who could have asthma attacks. They could be low on breathing. It could cause death on somebody. I don't wanna risk falling in the middle of the street or getting run over by a car. TCI will promote sustainability and healthy/livable communities. Should have benefits and more effort in the environment by working together and making more increase and do better. It should change all stages of transportation, including people who take the bus in making decisions planning, design, and construction. We can have better data analysis to measure resources, benefits, and outcomes of a community.

Like for some people that have experience from taking the bus. For example I take the bus and the bus schedules don't even be right i would have to sit in the cold to wait for the bus. I was going to work by taking the bus and i waited for almost an hour for the bus come and i was late to work.So i would have to take the bus earlier than what i usually do so i wouldn’t be late and end up getting in trouble from my job, They Should have better routes and access,time management lets others know the exact time instead of waiting for a certain amount of time for the bus to arrive at the stop or destination.

Sidewalks should look better so people can walk without walking into cracks, holes, and more things on the ground. This is important for public health, cutting pollution, helping my community.

POET appreciates the opportunity to comment on the TCI Framework. Our comments are attached.

I am deeply and gravely concerned over this petition. By limiting the amount people will drive you are affecting an entire industry and workforce on the available cars to work on after the industry has already sustained raising workforce costs. We as an industry cannot sustain being attacked on both angles by our own government who is supposed to help foster small business instead of kill it. I voted for a Republican Governor in my state to help protect me from these issues.

We need to drastically reduce the fuels we use. We need to provide a greater sense of community with access to transportation across our cities. More transit lines, fair pricing and incentives to use public transportation would be a great start

I support TCI because: I want better public transportation options; transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in my state and we have to act on climate; the transportation status quo is hurting overburdened communities especially hard; Rhode Island needs complete streets and bike paths to keep children safe; better connected communities are more vibrant communities; I want Rhode Island to invest equitably in clean transportation strategies that improve air quality and mobility in our overburdened communities; clean transportation is an opportunity for economic growth and new jobs; rural communities need more public transportation options; more trains to Boston will keep Rhode Island competitive in our regional economy; tailpipe pollution is adding to asthma and heart disease and costing millions of dollars in extra healthcare costs; traffic congestion around downtown Providence is spewing pollution into the neighborhoods; less fossil fuels coming into Rhode Island will mean cleaner air and better land use around the Port of Providence; cleaning up port operations will help clean up the air in Providence communities; better public transportation will help reduce traffic congestion and its great societal cost; cleaner electric vehicles are better for the climate, our local environment, and our economy; better public transportation will help more people access more jobs and basic services; we all need more mobility options; we should be able to get around our communities without needing to own a car; our region sends billions of dollars in fossil fuel purchases out of our economy to other parts of the country; I want Rhode Island to pursue the most ambitious emissions cap possible; I want Rhode Island to build mobility hubs in all communities; I want Rhode Island to build Bus Rapid Transit lanes; I want Rhode Island to invest in more train service throughout the state; I want Rhode Island to invest in more park and ride lots with transit service; I want Rhode Island to invest in more bikeshare services; I want Rhode Island to invest in more electric vehicles and public charging stations; and I want Rhode Island to invest in more paratransit to improve mobility for all.

In order to have a meaningful impact on switching the transport sector to lower carbon options, we need a meaningful high price on carbon. This would create both consumer economic incentives, and spur private sector investment to make low and zero carbon options more available.

We must also ensure that policy doesn't overly burden lower income families. A system where carbon fees are recycled as household dividends is one approach to ensure social equity of the program.