TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This TCI Plan does not seem to take into account the small businesses that employ thousands of unskilled and skilled workers. It seems they are bent upon killing the crux of small business community.
They should think of stopping issuance of new business licenses to big gas station companies like WAWA, Royal Farms, Seven Elevens who are just busy opening new gas stations like mushrooms in the name of development and counties are helping them without keeping anything like what TCI is trying to achieve.
I know at least five big gas stations having come up in one single zip code 20743 while at least 4 more are about to come. a curvy will reveal there are not only one but two or three stations on every corner of each road. Stop supporting big companies and help sustain the existing businesses.

we do not want it. it will have major effect on small business owners, employees and over economy.

1. Eliminate pick-up trucks from entering cities as a way to commute.
2. Strictly enforce "no idling" laws.
3. Car manufacturers need to be held accountable for product vehicles that significantly increase CO2 emissions and other particles. This is a moral issue.
4. Increase taxes on pick-up trucks and SUV's. Taxing EV's is the approach.
5. Decrease subsidies to fossil fuel companies - increase incentives for EVs
6. Eliminate tax breaks for the manufacture pick-up trucks and EVs.
7. Create parking hubs for commuters - created ZEV vehicles to provide transportation to the various locations in cities.

Is Mills out of her mind or just evil? Does she have absolutely no awareness of what life is like for all of us who live in rural Maine? We already live on low incomes, and transportation is a must if we are going to be able to continue to work. One of my sons drives an hour to work and back each day, and another one of my sons has to drive all over the state. I drive a lot in my line of work as well. Transportation costs are already a hardship. I can't imagine how we'll survive with such a high gas tax! Many of us are living from paycheck to paycheck as it is. Someone please stop her from causing such irreparable damage to the people of Maine. She is a monster.

We write from the Collaborative Center for Justice, which is a faith-based advocacy organization based in Hartford, CT. We are sponsored by six congregations of Women Religious around the state. Environmental justice has been one of our priority areas for our education and advocacy work over the years.

We support the development of a strong multi-state Transportation and Climate Initiative and we urge Governor Lamont to fully support participating in this critical initiative. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions will continue to grow if timely action is not taken to transform our transportation system. This initiative is a critically important opportunity to make changes that will lead to an increase in clean transportation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

We urge leaders to include provisions to prioritize investments in frontline communities that have already disproportionately borne the burdens of environmental injustices. Low-income communities and communities of color already face greater exposure to pollution from vehicle emissions, fossil fuel plants and incinerators in and near their communities. These communities need to be prioritized in the transition to clean energy. We also call upon the leaders of this initiative to meaningfully include voices from directly impacted communities in each step of the development and implementation processes.

We urge you to ensure the inclusion of the following components when developing the final program: commitment to utilizing investments to improve and expand public transportation in the state; increasing and improving bike lanes and sidewalks; and investing in expanded rail service across the state and region. This is an opportunity to make it safer, more affordable, and more possible for people to take public transportation to school and work from where they live. Increasing the frequency of buses and trains and expanding their routes are two important components to make these changes possible. It is also important to increase the availability of bike lanes so that people can safely commute from a public transit stop to another location by bike. Investment in fixing potholes, particularly on busy city streets, is also an important component of improving biker safety.

Residents who already commute to school and work by public transportation face challenges with our current system too. Many bus routes do not have frequent enough schedules to meet the needs of the residents who depend on them. In many cases, taking a bus to school or work is very time consuming because routes and connection points are limited. Bus routes need to be expanded in cities and to neighboring suburbs in order to better address this problem.

We also recommend that investments be used to transition school and public buses to electric buses. Increasing the number and expanding the locations of charging stations around the state would support the transition to electric buses and cars. Transitioning to electric buses will have important public health benefits for the children and adults who ride the buses, as well as for the wider community.

As people of faith, we concerned about the health and wellbeing of all people and our planet. We are particularly concerned about the impacts of environmental injustices on low-income communities and communities of color. We believe that there is an urgency to our actions to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. As a state and region, we have a collective responsibility to make changes to our transportation sector that will address and end these injustices, and move our society toward cleaner and more equitable transportation options in the most immediate way possible. We look forward to Governor Lamont’s leadership and commitment to this critically important initiative.


Respectfully submitted,

Dwayne David Paul – Director
Rachel Lea Scott, MSW – Associate Director

Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the region, and we need to build a modern, clean, safe, and accessible transportation system for the 21st century. The more we limit pollution from motor fuels, the more jobs we create, the more the economy grows, the healthier our air becomes, and the more lives we save. Pennsylvania should join TCI to fund better transportation infrastructure, reduce traffic, and make my community a cleaner, safer place to live.

To Whom It May Concern,

I am opposed to this proposal because it would unfairly burden consumers and businesses in Pennsylvania who already pay the highest gasoline taxes in the country.

Thank You,

Quincy Longacre

Finding efficient methods for increasing the environmental and public health is a critical goal. The well-being of Maryland constituents and beyond depend on developing new transportation initiatives and technologies that will increase productivity, safety, reduce pollutants as well as strengthen the economy for all.