TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

RI is the smallest state with the highest taxes and most corrupt government! We CAN NOT AFFORD to pay more in taxes, higher gas prices. We have the worst public transit system. It barely covers half the state, what about the rural sectors? Enough is enough. Start taking the cars away from city employees that use them for personal use after hours that will save money and fuel!

The lack of public transportation in Baltimore is shocking. Instead of subsidizing the oil and gas industries, this money should go to subsidizing ridership on public transportation, on both local and regional trips. Good for the young. Good for the old. And we all pass through both phases in life. So that equals good for all of us.

I support the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) as it will reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, reduce congestion, and improve the climate. Please support this.
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I support this initiative because transportation is one of the primary barriers to equality in our state, and also the largest contributor of carbon emissions in RI. Many patients at the Pawtucket, RI, medical clinic where I work miss important appointments because of transportation limitations. Pedestrian and bicycle options are poor in Pawtucket--people feel unsafe walking in areas with no pedestrian crosswalks, lights, or lights that do not work. If more of our patients could walk or bike to work, school, their clinic, or the grocery store, we would undoubtedly see improvements in markers of chronic noncommunicable disease (e.g. obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, etc.). Additionally, if public transportation options were improved, many of our patients' daily stress levels would be reduced: their work commute times could be lowered and they could accomplish essential tasks more easily and cheaply. If public transportation options were increased while simultaneously lowering average vehicle emissions, one would also anticipate significantly lower rates of asthma, a condition which has direct relationship to exhaust particulate matter (in fact, the likelihood of an asthma-related pediatric emergency department visit tracks closely to house proximity to major highways in RI). More, better, and greener transportation options would create a healthier Rhode Island.

A fuel tax to reduce our driving in Maine is ridiculous. We drive long distances just to get to essential services here in the western mountains. We require powerful 4 wheel drive vehicles to get around in the winter. Electric cars are just NOT THE ANSWER! Cold temperatures, long distances, many people in fixed incomes unable to afford charging stations or a new car. Get real, Governor Mills. Listen to the people you serve.

Maryland should make a make a firm commitment to adopt a regional transportation policy that achieves a minimum 40 percent reduction in transportation sector climate pollution by 2030, to keep us on track to meet the climate goals updated by the General Assembly in 2016.

I am firmly in favor of the TCI and Vermont's participation. There is no question in my mind this is in our better interests.
Do the right thing for our climate future and join this initiative.

I support policies that show short and long term planning for curbing the both the greenhouse gas levels rising and increased transportation/traffic woes due to use of fossil fuels. A scientist by training I understand hard limits and the damage resulting from a spiraling negative feedback loop. If repairs are not going to be made by regulatory fiat, and a market solution is more palatable to get the job done-then build the system to make it happen. Short term thinking is what got humanity here in the first place- choosing comfort, convenience and cheap over building century stable systems which require effort. Humans are not evolved to be good at long term planning. Like safety protocols LT planning requires training and reinforcement.
What feels like small actions by individuals aggregate into horde of people which has big impacts. I place "the everything is fine as long as I get mine" and "why worry, it hasn't happened before" crowd into the category of homeowners who refuse to budge for hurricane evacuations until its too late, panic and jam the roads, or need to be asked to write their social security numbers on their arms so the bodies can be identified after the storm surge.
Commenters outraged at paying any taxes should work harder at getting your government to stop blowing billions of dollars on needless wars and hundreds of millions on Trumps golf outings. Try and remember taxes should pay for bridges that stay up, usable transportation and the social infrastructure of civilized society. Good government does not come for free. Ignorance, bad data and ideas repeatedly proven wrong that won't stay dead, well, those are free but still manage to end up costing everyone.

It is critical to preserving our quality of life that changes be made to our transportation systems to significantly reduce the damage done by carbon emissions. States must work together so that a cohesive solution will meet the target of achieving both reduction of emissions and providing the transportation services needed by private citizens and commercial interests.