TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

1) As an affected rural Vermont resident, I am interested in monitoring emissions reduction progress. For example, where could I find cubic models including baseline and changing air quality statistics that can be viewed by zip code or other measures?

2) I joined yesterday's webinar but found the scope and focus to be about social injustices. Is there a local organization that can address less complex but effective complimentary initiatives for emissions reduction at a local level?

I took the time to prepare this comment because I don’t want this program to repeat the implementation problems associated with the Acid Rain Program’s emissions monitoring system. I was involved in the EPA reporting from the start of that program and would not wish that experience on anyone. My advice is to keep the requirements as simple as possible and minimize the total level of effort needed to submit and track emissions.

I would be willing to discuss this topic with appropriate staff if there are questions or comments.

Thank you.

This is an amazing thing. Some things that will make it more amazing:
-Expansion to other states. There is only one passenger rail line in Oklahoma, and it only connects OKC to Texas.
-An expansion of the cap-and-trade, and perhaps the implementation of a carbon tax instead of cap-and-trade.

Thank you Virginia for joining and working on this. The convergence of three revolutions will be important to encourage in the right direction- ride sharing/bike/car sharing; AVs and EVs. Shuttles/multi-occupancy vehicles that are electric (with an electric grid that is low-carbon) but don't forget autonomous vehicles. Our transit company, Hampton Roads Transit, has trouble finding and keeping drivers, so is keeping an eye on AV technology, as are a lot of other heavy hitters, and the state of Michigan. Michigan is providing grant $ to address mobility and fund solutions (PlanetM.com). This plan will help small businesses with economic recovery post-covid and address the challenges of mobility in a more sustainable way. Grand Rapids has an autonomous vehicle initiative, with a shuttle fleet of AVs from a public-private partnership. Even the little city of Crozet VA I heard has an AV shuttle, made right here in this state.

It was brought to my attention that TCI has marginalized the importance of creating more bike/ped infrastructure. I received this excerpt from your report: "Due to the physical exertion and relatively slow pace, bicycle and pedestrian trips tend to be short in length (on average, not more than five miles for the former, and two miles for the latter) (EPA, 2011), meaning that these modes are unlikely to be viable substitutes for trips between more distant locales, no matter what measures are put in place to encourage their use. It has also been found that walking, in particular, is more likely to be used for recreation, rather than as a commuting option for workers (EPA 2011)." This does not take into consideration what has been proven in places that have good bicycle infrastructure. People will choose to bicycle even long distances if they feel safe and comfortable on the roads. Copenhagen is one example where the bike ways they made have increased the distance people will commute. This is an environmental as well as a public health issue. Obesity in the U.S. is a problem, and highlighted at this time when obesity is making Americans more susceptible to Covid-19. Please change your position and reasoning on bike/ped infrastructure so that more people and groups will support TCI. The more travel by human power the better for the health of the environment and people. And while electric cars may eventually help, currently only 18% of U.S. electricity is from renewable sources, the rest is from fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

This is a much needed step in our ongoing response to climate change. We need to be developing low/no carbon transportation systems now to insure the viability of our planet