TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

That’s why Governor Wolf is considering joining 11 other states and D.C. to form a regional initiative — the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) — that’s going to limit carbon emissions and significantly reduce pollution from gas-guzzling cars and trucks on heavily trafficked roads. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise much-needed revenue to modernize our transportation system on a regional scale, which will make it easier for everyone to get around!

Governor Wolf already committed to participating in TCI last year, and his administration is currently soliciting feedback on the program to decide if Pennsylvania will formally join. If we’re ever going to transition away from the dirty fossil fuels that are making our children sick and devastating our climate, then we have to get as many voices as we can to speak out in support of this bold initiative. Can we count you in?

Submit an official comment in support of the Transportation and Climate Initiative and a new generation of public transit >>

In your stakeholder comment, we recommend you:

-reduce pollution from transportation is a key component to reducing Pennsylvania's emissions
-public transit investments that could be made with TCI proceeds would be valuable
- leaders choose the aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target that the most recent climate science tells us we need.
- prioritize clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don’t have access to transportation choices.

I request that the following be included in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI):

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

Thank you.

Just as all of the Petroleum Industry, the Alternative Energy Industries should stand on their own.
To collect money from gasoline and diesel purchases to fund alternative energy projects is taxation without representation.
So I call on our members to dump your windmills and solar panels into the bay.

This is a terrible way to approach the issue of climate change. Very few people are out joy riding these days and most only travel out of necessity. This will unfairly impact primarily those with lower income. Doing this without going through the usual legislative process is cowardly. Where the revenue goes is very dubious. That it will even have a minuscule impact on climate change is also doubtful. I consider this to be a form of government overreach and extortion. Rather than penalizing all who must travel to work every day you should be developing actual solutions to commuter issues. Government seems to be a black hole we just shovel money into these days.

Achieving the objectives of the TCI demands better public transit. Period. Noting that the stated objectives of New York's TCI plan are to "reduce emissions, boost the economy, improve public health, and achieve fair and equitable outcomes for underserved communities," Citizens for Regional Transit implores our public servants to use the revenues derived from the proposed Cap & Invest initiative to invest in expanding mass transit in a region as densely populated as Western New York. The transportation sector is the largest contributor of carbon emmisions, and sixty percent of our transportation-generated carbon emissions come from light vehicles (cars), while only 3-4% come from buses. Thus, while the electrification of buses is welcome, we are not going to make much progress reducing our carbon footprint if vehicle miles traveled in cars is not dramatically reduced---which, in turn, cannot happen unless motorists are provided with viable transit alternatives to commuting by car. Given the relatively small proportion of carbon emissions from buses, this holds true whether or not buses are electrified. We need to improve the transit alternative to reduce VMT in order to reduce carbon emissions. Even the electrification of cars does nothing to reduce congestion, eliminate the demand for more and more environment-damaging parking, and puts more demand on the electrical grid that will have to rely more heavily on carbon-based sources.

Expanding public transportation for all not only stands to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, but simultaneously improves mobility options and equitable access for seniors, the disabled, and low-income communities. It also spurs economic growth by attracting transit-oriented development and delivering employees and customers to businesses. Numerous studies also show benefits to public health when access to public transportation promotes walkable and bikeable communities while reducing air pollution. In short, expanding mass transit would support all of New York's TCI investment goals.

Citizens for Regional Transit advocates for a comprehensive multimodal mobility system, but especially promotes expansion of our zero-emissions light rail rapid transit, which runs on clean hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls. Buffalo's Metro Rail was originally designed to serve the entire region via a 46-mile network of lines on publicly-owned but disused railroad rights-of-way. Expansion is still possible to the north, east, and south of our downtown, collecting passengers at Park-and-Ride lots and whisking them above ground to centers of employment, education, culture and commerce faster than they could hope to drive; and does this with zero carbon emissions. We hope to see legacy railroad infrastructure adapted to 21st century needs, both for commuter and intercity travel.

As a lifelong resident of New York State, I request that New York formally join the plan to reduce emissions. I care about reducing pollution from transportation, which is our largest source of global warming emissions (regionally and nationally), because I am concerned about native plants and animal species as well as the human population impacted by climate change.
The policy must embrace climate justice by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution. Stakeholders from underrepresented communities must have a voice.
I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this project. States and municipalities must take the lead for their own well-being when the federal government fails to act responsibly.

Hello TCI states,
I'm in Massachusetts. I'm so happy and excited to hear about this initiative. I've learned in the last year that transportation is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. So doing something in this sector seems to me to be "low hanging fruit" so to speak. So thank you so much for taking on this issue.

Thank you Governor Baker for your leadership and I sincerely request that Massachusetts formally join the program. Please choose the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets that are in line with the latest Climate Change science. And please prioritize areas where pollution is highest and impacting people the most for investments in clean energy.

Yours respectfully and sincerely,
Ms. Arlen Gould

Here are my concerns about TCI:
1. Please consider investing TCI funds in clean energy, energy efficiency, and more robust public transportation. This would expand career opportunities, and better public transportation would make jobs more accessible. Lastly, clean transportation will improve the health of our region and lower our related healthcare costs by reducing air pollution from fossil fuel vehicles.

2. Please ensure that low and moderate income residents do not bear the financial burden, by distributing TCI funds to cover added energy expenses in a manner that corresponds with the timing of higher costs. Also provide TCI funding to rural residents to cover the added gasoline costs incurred from longer driving distances and from extremely limited public transportation options (e.g. Franklin County, MA, has no evening and weekend buses).

3. Please allocate TCI funds to public transportation, municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, EV charging stations in rural areas and urban areas with rental properties, rebates for electric vehicles, including used EVs, and higher EV rebates for low-income residents, to make EVs more accessible to residents of all income levels.

4.Please consider Targeting TCI funding for the development of community solar for moderate and low income residents.

Thank you for your consideration and serious work on this critical issue of climate change in our region.