TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Scientists are screaming at the top of their lungs that we are in a crisis.

A sample of recent headlines:
“Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures rise”
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50690995?fbclid=IwAR2Fl4Xz8w3zJXs_lN9Pk5RYzwRHZLAy6_s_E7Aqx6xjPIvrOEdkoaNTF70)

“U.N. chief warns of ‘point of no return’ on climate change”
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/01/climate-change-point-no-return-074610)

“In bleak report, U.N. says drastic action is only way to avoid worst effects of climate change”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/11/26/bleak-report-un-says-drastic-action-is-only-way-avoid-worst-impacts-climate-change/?fbclid=IwAR3uSyLx-bPcrIrc7CXYsJIiNkOATN6WV0LbqHhiegq0Z1Cjgzcg92B7waY)

“World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency”
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz088/5610806?fbclid=IwAR0VYvHA8g8GeRbrtbwsc7iqLIIeZAJxOO7Xrc8Gqe1Ahp-A7NveFHrT6Gg)

In the face of this, we must do everything possible to reduce fossil fuel use to avoid handing our children a dystopian future. Why must Vermont act when we are such a small state? Because climate change is a collective problem and collective problems can only be solved through collective action - if each small actor decides their contribution is not meaningful, no one will act.

Critical to the TCI is that it raises the price of fossil fuels for transportation - when things are more expensive people use less. There is no more efficient way to get people to use less fossil fuel and no more efficient way to transition the economy way from fossil fuels. This is the uniform conclusion of virtually every economist and every economic group, including the World Bank and the IMF. As the World Bank’s president said ”to our economists, who have been studying this for quite some time, there is an obvious consensus that putting a price on carbon pollution is by far the most powerful and efficient way to reduce emissions.”

However, key to an equitable and durable policy is to use at least some of the revenue to help the working people and the poor, especially in Vermont’s rural areas. This can be done through a targeted carbon dividend to those least able to afford increased fuel prices.

Thanks to the 11 states (plus DC) for addressing transportation emissions through the TCI. I worked for the US DOE back in the 1990's when we began the Clean Cities program, and am frustrated that more progress has not resulted with clean transportation. I believe the TCI will be successful similar as the RGGI initiative has been with the power sector, and will continue actively promoting it and encourage others to support it.

the tci is a reasonable start to accepting our responsibility to lower carbon emissions.

I am a long time Geo Metro driver with my husband operating all electric cars for 10 years. I know poor people in Lewiston who want to work in Portland, but have no way to get there. I volunteer at the Gathering Place in Brunswick where many people need cheap transportation to Lewiston, via bus or train, but it's not available. The public needs regular bus routes between Lewiston and Brunswick so L/A residents have access to the major job source and services in Portland. Maine must reactivate the train line between Auburn and Portland to connect the two major urban areas of the state. Middle class workers will use this line, since it's much pleasanter, more affordable, and lower Carbon impact to ride instead of drive that distance.
I live in Topsham and support Governor Mills participation in the regional planning for greener public transportation in Maine. This plan must incorporate the most recent and best science on climate emissions from transportation. Transportation policy must be fair and inclusive for elderly, poor and handicapped people in Maine. This large group of Maine residents do not have private transportation and many need regular, affordable transport between Lewiston, Brunswick, and Portland to help meet their basic needs for essential services.
I am delighted and thankful that this policy planning includes both Republicans and Democrats, since it will work out compromises of cost, and practicality that will best serve Maine people and have support in the legislature to be enacted.
I am in the process of moving from 14 miles south of Bath to center of Topsham in order to reduce my driving time, climate impact, and costs. I am still able to walk the 1.4 miles to downtown Brunswick, yet will be working for cooperation between Topsham and Brunswick to extend Brunswick's good bus system to Topsham. This is one urban area which is only half connected via public transportation. Traffic congestion is moderate and growing both bypassing Brunswick and from Topsham to Brunswick and could be alleviated with an extended bus system. A regular bus system between Bath and Brunswick is greatly needed, since affordable housing in Brunswick is unavailable and very limited in Bath. Low income people who have no cars cannot get to work or housing between those two cities. The Brunswick Explorer bus has adapted and responded to need to transport students and refugees to and from the old Navy base at Cook's Corner.
Lanes for bicycle traffic should be established between urban areas and along scenic routes, as this can be both affordable transportation, good for people's health and reduce congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions. Topsham has started this process of making a safe walking/biking path along the bypass connector between Rt 1 in Brunswick and Rt 196. When completed many Topsham residents will be able to walk and bike to the Topsham Fair Mall.
For decades I have wanted a dial in ride sharing system to be created using people's smart phones to schedule shared rides to work. The state and BIW have done this with vans for some of their workers. This concept could be applied to private vehicles with thought given to screening people in the system for criminal records. The state cannot guarantee safety of people using such a system, yet the potential to reduce gas miles driven is huge. Perhaps towns could create a register of screened drivers with insurance who are willing to share rides. Maine can build on our small town culture of looking after one another, and take better care of our isolated elderly and poor residents with such a service. I am part of a volunteer network of drivers with New Mainers who take non English speaking residents of Brunswick to their twice weekly English classes in Topsham. this involves scheduling about 15 drivers with 20 or more residents and setting up phone communication for cancelations. Such transportation is also provided, or connections to the bus systems, for people to attend essential meetings in Portland. BIcycles have also been given to every adult at Brunswick Landing who wants one, and training provided in bike safety and practice biking to the library.
Mostly I would like to see commuters sharing rides to minimize Carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion and free up parking in urban areas. Thank you for this long needed subcommittee to design sensible transportation systems. Please look at European rail, and other public transport systems for adaptation to Maine's transport needs.

This TCI proposal is nothing more than tax increases disguised as "doing good". Raising the gas tax for a supposed carbon reduction is a hoax, pure and simple. No evidence has been shown that this gas tax increase will reduce carbon emissions, just speculation. How will this money be used? I think we all know the answer to that: WASTED!! Also, the legislature should be involved in this, as the people's representatives, not some executive order at the request of some unknown organization. Is the legislature being cut out because TCI knows it will fail? I believe that is the case. Masschusetts' taxpayers and residents should not be forced to pay for something that is not proven and not substantiated.

Maine cannot afford to pay extra taxes on something that is paramount to our survival. Number 1 - we cannot have electric cars given we have power outages all the time and - what would we do? Number 2 - during the winter the trucks that plow us out are not electric trucks! Number 3 - people cannot afford to switch out their cars in Maine. We have excise taxes that would kill us if we all went out and purchased expensive electric cars. These are examples of the lack of vision Janet Mills has - she has no business leading our State.

My name is Sally Chappell, and I live in Bridgton, ME, a rural town about 40 miles from Portland, ME. As a person who lost both parents at the same time in a car accident over forty years ago, I am constantly aware of mobility and the need for safe travel. If I could, I would give up driving. I had hoped to quit driving by the time I reached 70 years of age, but at 72, I have no options for public transportation where I live.
Moreover, I am concerned about the climate and the amount of fossil fuels used to meet Americans' transportation needs. Policies on transportation should take into account the science of climate change and what that portends in the future as well as ensuring equity for low-income, the handicapped (my husband is blind), and ageing people who are more likely to decline in competence in dealing with fast-moving, crowded highways. My husband and I just returned from a trip to PA and NJ, and the highways were nerve-wracking.
I am grateful for Gov. Mills' support of the Transportation and Climate Initiative as well as for the nonpartisan aspect of the initiative.
Can a 72-year old look forward to increased transportation options that help us get around while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases? I hope so. Time is running short for the earth's ecosystems.

Since human-driven climate change is, scientifically acknowledged, the greatest danger to life on our tiny little rock in this enormous universe then it is imperative that intelligent decisions must be made in all areas. You have the chance and responsibility to design and enforce a drastic reduction of
the pollution emitted by the burgeoning number of combustion-powered vehicles on our already crowded roads.
A fifth major extinction on our planet may not be reversible but, for the sake of ALL of earth's lifeforms, please make every effort to reduce all forms of dangerous pollution. Amen.