TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Material submitted through the TCI Public Input form from April 2019-February 2021 is viewable here. View input submitted from March 1, 2021 forward here. All material submitted on this page informed the participating jurisdictions in the 2019-2020 TCI regional policy design process. Click on the column headings to sort the submissions.

Date	First	Last	Affiliation	City	State	Input	File
1/19/2020	Peter	McKnight	Mr	West Hurley	New York	Reducing our carbon (and methane) footprint is imperative. I support all efforts to achieve this. Reducing our carbon (and methane) footprint is imperative. I support all efforts to achieve this.	-
1/19/2020	Kevin	Frank	Republican	Sanford	Maine	Does mills know what happened in France when Macron put a Carbon tax on workers in France..The yellow vests movement. We all know TCI is about destroying the citizens free will. It... read more Does mills know what happened in France when Macron put a Carbon tax on workers in France..The yellow vests movement. We all know TCI is about destroying the citizens free will. It's not about carbon and Mills Wouldn't know carbon if she breathed it.. It's about destroying the citizens..Greedy government.	-
1/19/2020	Elaine	Schmerling	Village of Ardentown	Wilmington	Delaware	We need more and better public transportation, to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. Also, our roads are too crowded already, as population is growing, we need more people to take... read more We need more and better public transportation, to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. Also, our roads are too crowded already, as population is growing, we need more people to take public transportation - but it is not always convenient enough, we don't have enough of it.	-
1/19/2020	Fred	Morris	None	Collegeville	Pennsylvania	A better mass transportation system is needed to replace cars and planes for travel, business or pleasure, for short distances of up to 500 miles. A better mass transportation system is needed to replace cars and planes for travel, business or pleasure, for short distances of up to 500 miles.	-
1/19/2020	Frank	Orifici	Concerned citizen	Kensington	New Hampshire	Thank you for taking seriously the need to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector, especially in light of the fact that the federal government is not addressing this issue. We... read more Thank you for taking seriously the need to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector, especially in light of the fact that the federal government is not addressing this issue. We need to reduce or carbon foot print and the transportation sector is our greatest polluter with regard to green house gases. I implore my home state of New Hampshire to participate and would with our regional partners to improve the publics access to cleaner transportation options the especially reduce dangerous emissions in our overburdened low income neighborhoods. Thank you for your consideration.	-
1/19/2020	Margaret	Doherty	concerned resident	Bryn Mawr	Pennsylvania	Climate change is one of the greatest problems of our times. Providing efficient tranportation can greatly reduce emissions that harm the environment. This plan is a step in the right direction... Climate change is one of the greatest problems of our times. Providing efficient tranportation can greatly reduce emissions that harm the environment. This plan is a step in the right direction.	-
1/19/2020	Gayle	Benson	Ms.	Oceanside	New York	For now & the future, this is important. We can do it. For now & the future, this is important. We can do it.	-
1/19/2020	elizabeth	banwell	livng being that needs clean air, taxpayer	howell	New Jersey	Thank you for taking comments about transportation in our crowded tri-state region. I just ask that you consider air quality, especially in light of our forests and farms giving way to buildings,... read more Thank you for taking comments about transportation in our crowded tri-state region. I just ask that you consider air quality, especially in light of our forests and farms giving way to buildings, with imperious surfaces for ever more vehicles. Too often I see abandoned factories and stores not rehabbed and reused, but rather trees cut down. Trees, which are the lungs of the planet. It is so wrong!	-
1/19/2020	Stanley	McDonald, Jr.	self	Sherborn	Massachusetts	This initiative is vitally needed to reduce carbon emissions from transportation. This initiative is vitally needed to reduce carbon emissions from transportation.	-
1/19/2020	David	Knudsen	Self	Wakefield	Massachusetts	I want to voice my support for this initiative, which I hope will decrease the use of carbon-based fuels by pricing them to reflect at least some of their external costs. For me the projected at-... read more I want to voice my support for this initiative, which I hope will decrease the use of carbon-based fuels by pricing them to reflect at least some of their external costs. For me the projected at-the-gas-pump price increases that have been bandied about in the media (well shy of 25 cents per gallon) are in fact all too modest to represent much of a price signal at all, especially given the large fluctuations in fuel prices that everyone has endured over the last twenty years, and the current low prices. At the same time I recognize that many people are not able easily to absorb even small increases in fuel costs, and so this initiative must include a very strong equity component. Housing costs force trade-offs in commuting distances. Beyond applying revenues from this initiative to mitigation of carbon fuels' external costs generally, a substantial portion of the revenues should be directed toward mitigation of disadvantaged populations' costs specifically. Such mitigation could take the form of support for affordable housing that allows shorter commutes (enlarged rental voucher programs, direct subsidizing of affordable housing construction, for example). It could take the form of support for dramatically expanded public transit options, although this approach seems likely to bypass large geographic areas that have no existing public transit framework upon which to build. It could take the form of additional incentives for gas-efficient vehicles. It could even take the form of odometer-based tax credits available to low-income filers, which, being based on miles traveled rather than fuel consumed, would still reward the use of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles. This equity concern strikes me as particularly important for the Massachusetts governor in view of the public stance that he has taken on the inequitable nature of congestion pricing schemes. I will be impressed and supportive of any administration that supports an initiative such as this one. In my view we are years behind where we should be. It is long past the time where we can afford to reject proposals because they are not perfect in every respect. We are at a point where we must move forward and try something, doing our best to provide flexibility to adjust as we assess our progress. Please be bold!	-
1/19/2020	David	Bowman	First Baptist Church/ US Army retired	Jackman	Maine	I am opposed to this plan. It is Not good for the people of Maine. I am opposed to this plan. It is Not good for the people of Maine.	-
1/19/2020	Richard	Riman	Retired	Randolph	Massachusetts	Do not pass the TCI! We do not need any more costs burdened on the taxpayer. Increases in gas ripple through and raise all other costs of living. All government cost increases must... read more Do not pass the TCI! We do not need any more costs burdened on the taxpayer. Increases in gas ripple through and raise all other costs of living. All government cost increases must be run thru the legislature and not occur automatically. No one will die on the streets if we cut taxes one dollar as Michael Dukakis said. If you need extra monies consider the following: We certainly have existing programs that can be scaled down or eliminated. We should not be allowing double collection of pensions Pensions and wages need to be more in alignment with those in the private sector Stop funding illegal aliens Housing, welfare, medical, and any other related costs Fully investigate welfare for fraud Investigate expenditures We do not have a funding problem, we have a spending problem!	-
1/19/2020	Sumner	Roper	Mr.	Nashua	New Hampshire		-
1/19/2020	Karen	Carlisle	Activist	NY	New York	I am a jewelry designer and an activist, clean water and clean air is a human right. I have suffered from allergies my entire life, so it’s a health issue for me also. As a NY resident I’m... read more I am a jewelry designer and an activist, clean water and clean air is a human right. I have suffered from allergies my entire life, so it’s a health issue for me also. As a NY resident I’m imploring all of my NY representatives to please join the plan to reduce emissions.we must support policies with strong components of equity by prioritizing clean investments. I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this project. Please take a look at what is happening in Australia, living in DENIAL is no longer an option, a cleaner future is the only solution at this point. Let us not pretend and act like the mainstream media , the reality show bores me! The game is up!	-
1/19/2020	Kevin	McAleer	Activist	Manhasset	New York	The transportation sector is the largest source of planet warming greenhouse gas emissions both regionally and nationally. As such, it is imperative that we reduce emissions from this sector as... read more The transportation sector is the largest source of planet warming greenhouse gas emissions both regionally and nationally. As such, it is imperative that we reduce emissions from this sector as quickly as possible to insure this planet is safe and livable for generations to come. I request that the state of New York heavily collaborate with other states in the region and the District of Columbia to accomplish the goals of this initiative as it will help our economy adapt to the 21st century and improve the quality of our environment. I am grateful that this initiative enjoys broad support across the political spectrum and hope to see more examples of this in the future. Finally, it is extremely important that the investments and actions created by this initiative benefit overlooked communities that are often hit the hardest by pollution and other forms of environmental degradation.	-
1/19/2020	Donna K	Sceusa	NYU Langone Health	New York	New York	The federal, state and local governments have not done enough to bring clean transportation to our nation. The eastern sea coast has one of the largest population concentrations and has such... read more The federal, state and local governments have not done enough to bring clean transportation to our nation. The eastern sea coast has one of the largest population concentrations and has such outmoded, fossil fuel dependent transportation. In New York City, large delivery trucks crowd our streets and pollute our air. If we had more modern clean energy produced electricity for freight and passenger trains, delivery from train depots could be mage by smaller, clean energy vehicles. Traffic congestion anxiety would be abated. Amtrak is a disgrace! Modern high speed trains could potentially reduce air travel, saving people from the drudgery of get to and from airport because train stations are in town. Airplane fuel is becoming a greater source of pollution and is more dangerous. The New York subway system is about as good as it can be, given its old technology. How can we increase efficiency and insure more clean energy generation is available to the system? Why is it that places like the European Union, Japan, and even China can do a better job at this? Let’s get down to some bipartisan business of trying to do what is best for our country, that includes keeping us competitive with the rest of the world. Good, clean energy transportation is part of the equation to make many of our industries more marketable.	-
1/19/2020	donna	Logan	Mother/Gardener/Outdoor enthusiast	Erie	Pennsylvania	Transportation is the largest source of pollution in the Northeast region, comprising more than 40 percent of total regional global warming emissions. In addition to the health impacts associated... read more Transportation is the largest source of pollution in the Northeast region, comprising more than 40 percent of total regional global warming emissions. In addition to the health impacts associated with rising temperatures, soot and ground-level ozone from the region’s cars and trucks are responsible for more than 50,000 asthma attacks, 1,000 deaths, and other pollution-related illnesses that incur approximately $27 billion in total health care costs every year. The health impacts of transportation affect all of us, but especially vulnerable are children, the elderly, the chronically ill, and people in low-income communities. Our transportation system is also expensive. More than 15 percent of US household income goes toward purchasing, fueling, and maintaining personal vehicles, making it the second-largest household expense behind housing. What we need and can achieve is a transportation system in which a shared network of electric vehicles, working in concert with a first-class public transportation system, gets everybody where they need to go without burning a gallon of gasoline or wasting time in traffic. A transportation system that doesn’t contribute to air pollution or climate change, and isn’t vulnerable to the volatile swings of oil prices. It will require cooperation between local, state, regional, and federal governments, and between government and the private sector. And most importantly, it will require policy leaders to identify and prioritize new sources of funding for clean transportation priorities. If everyone works together, it can be achieved. Some may need to make sacrifices and that is never easy.	-
1/19/2020	Don	Smith	Independent	Scarborough	Maine	I am adamently against participation in the TCI. It will make absolutely no difference in the rural state of Maine other than to cause hardship for an already excessively tax burdoned working... read more I am adamently against participation in the TCI. It will make absolutely no difference in the rural state of Maine other than to cause hardship for an already excessively tax burdoned working class. Let the polluting high density states foot the bill.	-
1/19/2020	Josette	Le Beau	Stakeholders	Neptune	New Jersey		-
1/19/2020	June	Atkinson	regional driver	Quincy	Massachusetts	I oppose the Transportation Climate Initiative. We are already heavily taxed at the gas pump. I and many of my co-workers are living paycheck to paycheck. It is not fair to ask us to pay more... read more I oppose the Transportation Climate Initiative. We are already heavily taxed at the gas pump. I and many of my co-workers are living paycheck to paycheck. It is not fair to ask us to pay more tax. It will be a tremendous burden. I have heard Governor Baker say that there is sufficient funding to improve the MBTA. In fact I have heard it is a very large sum, so there is no need to punish the driving population. Thank you.	-

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