“Our Transportation Future” is Committed to Helping Shape a Final Model Rule with Focus on Enhanced Equity, Health, and Climate Benefits.WASHINGTON, DC – March 1, 2021 – The Our Transportation Future (OTF) coalition is encouraged by the Transportation & Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) draft model rule, released today by 11 states and Washington, DC. The draft model rule follows the December commitment by Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia to participate in the program to reduce harmful air-pollution and modernize transportation in the Eastern U.S., and an announcement by 8 other states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia) that they are also considering the program.

Our Transportation Future is committed to ensuring that the cap-and-invest program benefits communities that are on the frontlines of massive proposed public transportation cuts, harmful air pollution, and devastating climate impacts and to make sure that a significant portion of the funds allocated in the program reach these hardest hit communities. Our Transportation Future also calls on individual states to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the regional agreement; for example, recently filed legislation in Massachusetts would direct at least 70% of TCI-P proceeds to overburdened and underserved communities in the state.  

Our Transportation Future issued the following statement today:

“Today’s release of the TCI Program’s draft model rule is a very encouraging next step towards reducing carbon pollution from the transportation sector as well as providing critical funding for 21st Century transportation that will improve our neighborhoods, public health, air quality, and commutes. 

We are fully committed to ensuring an improved regional transportation system that would mean reliable and safe mass transit, more electric buses, trucks, cars and charging infrastructure, walkable and bikeable communities, air quality monitoring, less congestion and pollution, and increased investments in projects that connect everyone, including those in both underserved urban and rural areas. 

While it will take some time to analyze the fine details of the draft model rule, OTF is encouraged by what has been presented and discussed among the state officials who have signed on to the program. OTF looks forward to additional states in the region fully joining the program in the coming weeks and months.” 

Recent polling found that 7 in 10 East Coast voters support the program as a way to create good-paying jobs and rebuild after the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the TCI program is expected to save residents of participating states billions of dollars in avoided health costs over the course of the program’s implementation according to updated modeling released by the Harvard TRECH study. 

Our Transportation Future is a coalition of 77 local, regional, and national organizations committed to modernizing transportation in the Eastern U.S. OTF is focused on improving our transportation system -- the ways we move people and goods in the region – to spur economic growth, make us healthier and safer, clean up the environment, and improve our quality of life. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Alex Frank, (703) 276-3264, [email protected]; 

OTF members include:  A Better City, Acadia Center, Alliance for Business Leadership, Appalachian Mountain Club, Center for Sustainable Energy, Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, Ceres, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Chispa Maryland, Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action, Climate Group, Climate Law and Policy Project, Climate XChange, Connecticut Fund for the Environment / Save the Sound, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, ConnPIRG, East Coast Greenway Alliance, Energize Maryland, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), Energize Maryland, Environment America, Environment Connecticut, Environment Massachusetts, Environment Maryland, Environment Maine, Environment New Hampshire, Environment New Jersey, Environment New York, Environment Rhode Island, Environment Virginia, Environmental Advocates of New York, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Greater Prince William Climate Action Network, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Green For All, Health Care Without Harm, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Maine Conservation Voters, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Maryland PIRG, Massachusetts Climate Action Network, Massachusetts Public Health Association, MassINC Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, MassPIRG, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, New Jersey Sustainable Business Council, New York League of Conservation Voters, NHPIRG, NJPIRG, Northeast Clean Energy Council, PennEnvironment, Philadelphia Solar Energy Association, Rail Passengers Association, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Save the Sound, Southern Environmental Law Center, Transport Hartford Academy at the Center for Latino Progress, Transportation for America, Transportation for Massachusetts, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. PIRG, Vermont Conservation Voters, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, Vermont Natural Resources Council, and 350 MASS for A Better Future.