TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

The t c initiative would help reduce pollution, expand local and regional transport options, allow for more and cleaner options in transport, and choosing aggressive greenhouse options would significantly help address climate deterioration.

The ITCTC is the MPO for the Ithaca Urbanized Area. A newly developed 20-year plan can be found in our website: http://tompkinscountyny.gov/itctc/lrtp. The plan recognizes the many of the interactions and synergies that are associated with efforts to reduce transportation GHG emissions. Data shows that the bulk of GHG emissions in transportation come from light duty vehicles fulfilling everyday household trip demands. In response, plan policies support efforts and programs that seek to reduce automobile dependency, and particularly, drive-alone trips. Concurrently, it is recognized that there needs to be a concerted effort to shift the vehicle flee to Electric Vehicles. Both strategies are needed, a reduction in trips and a shift to EVs, in order to have significant GHG reductions. Therefore, in addition to EV promotion initiatives, the TCI is urged to support local and regional efforts to enhance transit, bicycling, walking, shared transportation and land use and technology applications that facilitate a modal shift away from cars with a focus on drive-alone trips. The results will enhance equity, reduce GHG emissions and provide for a more diverse and resilient economy.
There also remains an important role for intensive education of technical staff and decision makers at all levels, to better understand the dynamics of transportation as they relate to environmental concerns, economic growth and overall quality of life. Similarly, education of the public, is required to move the needle in an effort that requires individuals to make different day-to-day transportation decisions. In many ways, our challenges are not technical, but political
The ITCTC is available to discuss this issue further and to assist in any way we can the work of the TCI.

Let's do the right thing to ensure a cleaner, healthier, safer America for all of us.

I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative policy. I’m proud to live in a state that is taking appropriate steps to tackle the climate crisis, and I think that initiatives such as this one will provide for a healthy and prosperous future for those living in the targeted areas. I live in an area that is growing exponentially, and this growth has had, and will continue to have, its costs. My children’s school is less than a mile from home but we have to drive, instead of walk or cycle, because there are no adequate sidewalks or bike lanes. With increasing traffic in the area my family would love to be part of the solution and be one less vehicle on the road. The environmental benefits to this policy I think are obvious but the health benefits maybe not so much unless you or someone you know suffers from breathing problems. I have asthma and there is no doubt that my asthma attacks are increasing in frequency and severity. Knowing that there could be multiple causes for this increase that fact is air pollution has been shown to be one of those causes, and air pollution is something that we can control via policies such as the TCI policy. I want my children to have the same opportunities that I had growing up, but I fear climate change is going to make that very unlikely. For our children and their children and so on, let’s do what we can to ensure they can get to school, work, etc. safely and with as little impact on their one and only home as possible.

This initiative is very concerning to me. What those behind this don’t understand is that many people in rural areas throughout Maine have no choice but to drive trucks and SUVs so we can get to work in any conditions. Additionally, we can’t afford to drive less - we simply drive to and from work each day and many have at least a 30 minute commute - it’s just the way things are in rural areas. This will have extreme negative effects and will NOT simply make people drive “cleaner and greener” vehicles. The people who can afford to and desire to drive cleaner vehicles already do so. All this change would do is drive up costs (on everything) and drive people OUT of our great state. But I bet the law makers actually know this and are just trying to find a way to get more money out of the people. This isn’t really about the climate..

Its bullsh_t. Get your grubby, sticky, spineless fingers out of MY paycheck. You have no right as public servants to create bullsh_t science excuses to take more of our hard earned money to fund your bullsh_t ideas and non-profits to skate on your own taxes.

Vermont, having one of the lowest carbon footprint in the United States, does not need to participate in this program in anyway. This will only increase the cost of living for Vermonters. We can no longer afford any more increased taxation in any method. This will only seriously increase the cost of living and negatively impact low and moderate income Vermonters. We cannot afford this. And there is no need. I respectfully request that Vermont not participate in this initiative whatsoever!

Massachusetts has done much to increase the use of renewable energy, which I strongly support. However, I must stand against TCI, for I feel that TCI is tantamount to taxation without representation, the very dynamic which had made life under British rule intolerable. If other states had followed our lead, the problem would not have not led to suggesting such a dangerous change in governmental policy. Perhaps working with other states, we could encourage and help them to adopt some of the initiatives that we have taken, so as to increase their use of renewable energy. I strongly believe that it is Governor Charlie Baker's duty, as an elected official, to bring his proposal of adopting TCI policy to the Massachusetts legislature for a vote.