TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I am excited to see a high-impact, regional approach to tackling carbon emissions moving forward.

No tax increase for this! You get enough money from
Hard working American citizens. Stop wasteful spending.
Stop releasing people here illegally who commit crimes.

The earth has had warmer and colder seasons always. Check with the Univ of Maine and their core samples from Sebasticook Lake in Newport. They concluded that the earth was hotter and drier than now 6000 to 8000 years ago. God is in charge of the climate/atmosphere/universe and He would never allow us even the smallest charge over it. Please keep in mind while you are reducing carbon use that everything on earth uses carbon dioxide and it is necessary for life.

I am a citizen concerned with climate change, our existential crisis that needs immediate action. Transportation is the biggest sector that is creating emissions in Maine. Yet transportation has been the sector that has been all but ignored in our state action plan to address climate change. Why do I say that when the plan does posit that electric cars and more electric charging stations are in the plan? Because both are solutions that only the wealthy can afford at this time. They are not practical solutions . We need to provide solutions that can be implemented right now. It is not a matter of people becoming aware. We are aware. We need to do steps right now. Public transportation needs to be electrified, expanded and improved immediately. People have shown they will use it if it is reliable, affordable and easy to use. The Downeaster is expanding, the Breeze works. But we need much more geared to commuters. I use it in Europe where it is easier to use than a car as it is frequent and there are no parking problems. Maine used to have trolleys. What about trams, light rail? buses? We do not need to reinvent the wheel. I can walk faster than my local bus which is from the dinosaur age in terms of being consumer friendly. Having an app doesn't change the fact that the bus takes so long and does not run when people want and need it. There are too many bus stops and not enough routes. The buses are old, have no digital readouts showing the routes or the stops so a newcomer can navigate them. There are no schedules posted and no bus shelters with readouts showing the bus times en route. There has been no state plan to coordinate public transportation to address climate change and no financial backing from the state. Public transportation also is part of social justice. Low income people and seniors cannot afford uber rides. It is necessary for seniors to be able to remain in their homes. It helps with congestion and with health as people walk more. It helps with isolation and can create community as people meet on the same routes. We can start by working with large employers to provide public transportation convenient to their schedules. High schoolers can ride the buses to save money and not duplicate resources as electric buses are expensive but worth it. We have many examples of how to do this. Lets get going. I will ride if it is available in South Portland as I do everywhere else I go. Please give me the opportunity to do so while helping our climate.

I am appalled that this is even being seriously considered. The onerous tax load on Maine's middle class and poor will be increased to an unacceptable level should gas prices increase as expected. Just recall, if you will, some years ago when gas prices rose, and the concomitant decimation of businesses. Unrealistic goals which harm so many voters should be rejected out of hand. Quite apart from the effect on businesses for which gasoline is a major part, someone who works, as I do, traveling from house to house helping Mainers live in their homes, will be dealt a blow which will make our already low wage worth even less. If something like this is considered, it should be AFTER public transportation has been improved, NOT before. Even then, the rural character of Maine makes private transportation necessary. Most of us cannot afford electric cars, even if we would choose to use something which has NOT been proven to be best for our environment, given the terrible environmental costs of those batteries. Please withdraw Maine from this bad deal.

I support Maryland's adoption of a regional bipartisan transportation
policy that achieves a minimum 40 percent
reduction in transportation sector climate
pollution by 2030. This will help to keep Maryland on track to meet
the climate goals updated by the General
Assembly in 2016.

Please support the TCI (Transportation and Climate Initiative, which will set a cap on carbon emissions to reduce pollution from gas-guzzling cars, buses, and trucks. We feel it is very important for us to transition away from dirty fossil fuels while at the same time invest in clean reliable public transportation options. We need to clean up our air!