TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

TCI seems to be an effective way to help us reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions while providing important funds to invest in clean transportation initiatives.

In regards to the TCI, as a rural business owner, I am against this tax. As the second highest taxed state, we can not impose on our customers another tax increase. Not all counties in the state have emissions testing, as it is, so is the plan to now require all counties to be an active participant in Emissions? How can Perry county, for example, have no emissions testing (or tax) but two very heavily traveled roads ( Route 322 and Routes 11 & 15) are running through a majority of their county? I get the county is rural with much farm land, but so is Dauphin County with the exception of the Capital and Hershey area. If this process is to be set up with the people in mind, then the burden should be shared by the people. More heavily populated areas should bear the biggest burden of the tax, while the rural areas are bearing the least of this tax.

The Compliance Period should fall within a responsible window. You will need to determine by township the population and the portion of the tax, if it is to be approved. That way the people are sharing the burden equally. Each county would then be determined to owe 'it's' portion based on the population by township.

TCI jurisdiction for designing stability should not include rebates for purchasing electric cars, as the rural areas have few who can afford this luxury. There needs to be a way rural people get rebates on the use of their vehicles, as needed. Or else this just needs to omit the refund for electric vehicles. There should be a state referendum to make any changes to this process, as it will affect every person in the state.

Since transportation auses the most greenhouse gas emissions of any of the economic sectos, it only makes common sense to limit that as TCI will do. I am heartily in favor of TCI.

Reducing pollution from transportation is a key component to reducing New Jersey's emissions.
Public transit investments that could be made with TCI proceeds would be valuable.
Please choose the aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target that the most recent climate science tells us we need
I urge that the policy prioritize clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don’t have access to transportation choices.
Thank you

I strongly support the goals of TCI and the leadership the New England and East Coast states have assumed in energy efficiency and development and use of clean energy. If TCI is implemented, it will build on that leadership, helping to keep our regions' air clean and ensure the sustainability of our resources; it will also continue building the clean economy, thereby providing high-paying jobs throughout the region....Our country is at its best when we work together, building a coalition of people with like-minded goals from different places and different backgrounds; by reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector—as is possible with TCI—we can help keep clean the air, forests, and waters that hunters and fishermen, boaters and waterskiers, snowmobilers and hikers, skiers and rock climbers depend upon for their outdoor enjoyment. This in turn will ensure that the tourist industry—which provides a significant number of jobs throughout our states—remains robust. Thus, for environmental reasons, for financial reasons, and for employment-related reasons, I fervently hope the 12 states currently participating in designing TCI will be able to finalize plans and move forward, fully implementing TCI, and that if some of the current TCI states decide to drop out, the remaining states will move forward on their own. Thank you.

Please remember that we are not the only species on this planet. We share the Earth with other species, and we should be mindful of that.

We need to push the shift to sustainable transportation aggressively. As the cost of this cap is pushed onto consumers, more and more commuters in the area will have to turn to either sustainable vehicle options or public transportation. Of the two, I think public transportation is more effective – it doesn’t have as severe an upfront environmental impact, it helps multiple people at once, and the benefits would only increase if the vehicles themselves were green. However, the current public transportation system is too inefficient to be beneficial. If my commute to work is 15 mins by car and an hour by bus, of course I wont take the bus! The money earned from TCI needs to be applied towards improving our public transport and incentivizing people to use it.

I strongly support the TCI transportation initiative. A significant percent of Massachusetts' carbon emissions comes from vehicles, and state law requires that we reduce emissions. TCI will generate revenue for investment in transportation infrastructure, including public transportation, electrifying buses, building charging stations for electric cars, and incenting citizens to drive less and buy more fuel efficient vehicles. This bill is a significant step forward in bringing down emissions, which are destroying climate and damaging public health. Please vote favorably on this bill.