TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

We NEED a bold 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, and
- Sustainable and equitable housing near transit and electric bus fleets in urban communities

Make this happen! Your children and grandchildren's future depends on it.

Imposing a gas tax to help fund the fledgling MBTA is foolhardy and detrimental to families and tax payers of the commonwealth. The MBTA has been mismanaged and underperforming for decades. To think that a gas tax will fix this is foolish. Voters will remember the names that voted in favor. The ballot box will show how we feel, and you all will no longer represent the working, tax paying families of the Commonwealth.

Eventually, all transportation must be electrified. A carbon fee and dividend is the most useful method, at
present, to drive this process. Electric cars and busses can be subsidized in by increased additional
gasoline tax with revenue used to reduce fare prices on trollies and busses to support public transportation
and decrease auto use, and assigning part of the carbon fee to reduce fares.

Emphasize conservation replacement of fossil fuel use, adhere to Obama Era mileage standards, shift resources to public transit upgrades

The Transportation Climate Initiative is necessary but not sufficient policy to address the challenge of climate change mitigation.
All economic sectors must be represented to make real climate progress. Comprehensive carbon reduction measures are ready to implement in the next year-decade time frame. The political will must follow the public will to act on climate protection.

I am very concerned about the 2022 start, gradually phased implementation of TCI, and lagging outcome of consumer behavior change.

No time can be spared, with the climate bomb detonated in every part of the world. We can't escape the manifold and epic changes already baked into our physical, chemical and biological systems by excess carbon and greenhouse gas accumulation to date, much less buffer todays and tomorrows additional emissions.

At a minimum MA must adopt statewide comprehensive carbon pricing; targeted emission reductions to net zero asap; and no burning of carbon to supply "renewable" electricity. Even as MA and region negotiate a transportation agreement, all minds are simultaneously called to brainstorm and implement cross-sector emissions reduction.

TCI must not lull our regional authorities into complacency. In each jurisdiction we must act in concert with TCI planning, boldly and ambitiously, without delay. The time is past to dither. Legislation to bond this cost, rather than make direct investment in real time, is absurd and unconscienable. Blackrock financial just committed their trillions to sustainable investment; so must public investment be redirected. Business as usual cedes to business with future welfare included in the calculus.

We lead as individuals, communities, businesses and government. No waiting time exists. All exertion to reduce this highest risk to all, this existential threat to life in this geologic epoch, is belated. The house is on fire. Each day brings a new sense of emergency, in all parts of this imperiled life support system. We're in the ICU and heading into hospice.

TCI and climate protection needs to care for the vulnerable. An estimated billion animals died in Australia, over these past months of unprecedented change amidst a politically reckless, reeking, wreckage of landscape, habitat, and civilization. No corporate energy monetary profits can be justified, nor can their assets afford to redeem or compensate for THIS LOSS ALONE, the massive scale of wildfire extinction and destruction. The shame is what could have happened, what our kids future might have been, had leaders listened to scientists rather than campaign financier propagandists, since 1988. Stop politically blockading and braking clean energy progress.

The Massachusetts Joint TUE committee heard H.2810 Act to Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce Carbon Emissions on Tuesday 1/14/20. This is the gold standard for equitable carbon pricing for TCI to follow. It addressed buildings carbon emissions, not just transportation. We need to move on both sectors, as we accelerate non-carbon emitting electricity generation, and decelerate conventional energy production, transmission, and market monopolization.

Please act on all aspects of greenhouse gas mitigation, before all is lost, here and everywhere.

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.

We need clean air and reduced emissions. Do what’s right for the health of the American people.