TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

As a concerned citizen and CT taxpayer I want the state government to act on environmental pollution and support carbon neutral policies.

I would like to see a well-thought out electric vehicle charging infrastructure that would allow for longer drives across states. Existing rest areas can be utilized along highways. DC quick-chargers would be preferable, then cars can be charged in the time it takes to grab a coffee and use the restroom. In order to keep the charging fossil-fuel-free, all charging stations should be placed in areas with solar canopies/solar arrays and batteries to provide the power for charging. I have read that the next wave of electric vehicles will be trucks, so existing truck stops should have an appropriate number of chargers as well. As much as I love getting a free charge, it only makes sense that people will ultimately have to pay per charge. This will help cover some of the cost of implementing the infrastructure. In addition, parking areas should have a place to plug stationary charged vehicles in to help supply the grid. Another method of having fewer cars on the road is for municipalities to contract with companies to have a certain number of shared vehicles for short-term lease (like ZipCars).

Public transportation is a leading cause of carbon emissions. A concerted effort by many States to develop modes of transportation that rely on clean technology would be a major step towards reducing such pollution. In addition, it would provide an opportunity to plan public transportation that serves more communities from lower socio-economic groups. Governor Lamont should be commended for his support of this initiative.

I am very concerned about climate change and believe that a big way to help save our environment is to cut down or eliminate emissions from transportation.

Dear Regional Leaders,
TCI will reduce transportation greenhouse gases, which is important because that will help mitigate global warming and improve our air quality. With the fees collected from fossil fuel imports much needed improvements in our public transit system will be addressed including safe and reliable rail and bus service, electric vehicle infrastructure, and complete streets for bicycles and pedestrians. Those without choices have to drive and the resultant fuel consumption and traffic congestion damages our environment, public health, and quality of life.
Thank you, Governor Lamont for being involved in the regional design process; please have Connecticut formally sign on to TCI.
Please TCI leaders, sign on to the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions cap.
I would also ask that a TCI policy has equity and investment in overburdened and under served communities as a first and foremost priority.

Sincerely, Hugh Rogers

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. Connecticut should join TCI to fund better transportation infrastructure, reduce traffic, and make my community a cleaner, safer place to live.

We need an improved transportation system to reduce noise and pollution, especially in our cities, but everywhere. We need the improved health that cleaner air and water will bring. We need the improved quality of life that quieter streets will bring. Most importantly, we need the reduction of global warming that using much less fossil fuel for transportation can bring.

Only a major shift can bring the degree of change necessary. I urge you to develop more rapid transit, and make it powered electrically, so green energy can be the source, not fossil fuels. The amount of wind and solar power generation must be increased rapidly, along with the distribution system to move the power to where it's needed. The distributed nature of renewable sources means some of the generation will be nearer the suburban and rural places where it is used, which should improve the reliability of the power grid and lower overall cost.

I urge more charging locations be built for electric street vehicles. I urge electrifying all rail operations in the region, with the possible exception of branch lines with less than one train a day. Electric railways have been practical for a century or more. We dismantled some electrical rail systems in the Rocky Mountains, instead of adding more miles to them. Diesel locomotives seemed the cheaper, more flexible choice, but have helped bring us to the current, unsustainable situation we are in. It's time our transportation systems were modernized to be as good or better than the Europeans' and Japanese'!

Thank you

I'm enthusiastic and excited about the regional transportation initiative being formulated by my state and others in the northeast corridor. This is long overdue, and our environmental challenges, and climate change in particular, can't wait. This is urgent, requires investment and sacrifice, and needs to happen now! Thank you for your determination to make this project a reality.

It's high time we get serious about saving this planet. Transportation can be made cleaner with a little vision, courage and determination. It can wait no longer!