Last Three Governors Abandon Regional Transportation & Climate Initiative
Last week the last three states in the Regional Transportation & Climate Initiative– Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island– announced they were dropping out, leaving only the District of Columbia.
In December 2020, Pennsylvania decided not to sign on to the TCI initiative. Read more here.
The TCI was intended to reduce the climate impact of cars and trucks in the region by driving up the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel so high that consumers and businesses will be forced to purchase new, costly electric vehicles.
Yet, TCI only promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent regionwide.
After push back from EMA’s Northeast state associations, Governor Lamont (CT) pulled his support this week followed by the Massachusetts Governor Backer who issued this statement Thursday: “The Baker-Polito Administration always maintained the Commonwealth would only move forward with TCI if multiple states committed, and, as that does not exist, the transportation climate initiative is no longer the best solution for the Commonwealth’s transportation and environmental needs.
At the same time, the new federal infrastructure funding package, American Rescue Plan investments, as well as tax revenue surpluses generated by Massachusetts’ strong economic recovery make the Commonwealth better positioned to upgrade its roads, bridges and public transportation systems, while also making investments to reduce transportation on emissions, deliver equitable transportation solutions and benefits and meet the state’s ambitious climate goals.”
