MA and CT Governors Drop Push for TCI, McKee Is Last Gov Supporting Initiative
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Earlier this week, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont -- one of the signatories to the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) -- announced that he would no longer be pushing for the adoption of the initiative by the Connecticut legislature.
“Look, I couldn’t get that through when gas prices were at a historic low, so I think the legislature has been pretty clear that it’s going to be a pretty tough rock to push when gas prices are so high, so no," Lamont said Tuesday as reported by the Hartford Courant.
Now, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is dropping his previously staunch support.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn a statement Thursday afternoon, Baker press secretary Terry MacCormack said the administration had always said Massachusetts would only move forward with TCI if multiple states were also committed.
“As that does not exist, the transportation climate initiative is no longer the best solution for the Commonwealth’s transportation and environmental needs,” MacCormack said.
Governor Dan McKee is, de facto, the last man standing in support. He is the last remaining Governor still supporting TCI, his office confirmed on Thursday.
This past legislative session, the Rhode Island General Assembly refused to take up the agreement.
Advocates Say the Need Is critical
Josh Ostroff, Interim Director of Transportation for Massachusetts, said in a statement in reaction to the announcement from Baker’s office, “While Governor Baker has made a decision to withdraw from the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative, the goals of TCI remain as important as ever. For the sake of the entire Commonwealth -- but particularly our environmental justice populations that have been most adversely impacted by transportation pollution and by the COVID-19 pandemic -- reducing carbon emissions and tailpipe pollution must remain a high priority, and the Commonwealth’s laudable climate goals must be backed up by decisive action.”
“Incoming federal infrastructure dollars are a welcome down payment as we confront decades of underinvestment in our transportation system which have led to soul-sucking congestion, multiple train derailments, over 400 structurally deficient bridges, and a $10 billion maintenance backlog at the MBTA,” added Ostroff.
“But this influx of federal funding should also raise expectations for timely and decisive leadership by the Governor and the State Legislature. In the absence of TCI, we call on the Governor and lawmakers to double down on transportation investments that are clean, equitable, healthy, and safe, and to take bold steps to move Massachusetts away from our congested, unhealthy and unreliable transportation status quo,” Ostroff added.
Just Last December
Less than a year ago, Lamont, Baker, and then Governor Gina Raimondo jointly announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) supporting TCI.
At the time, Baker was resolute in his support for TCI.
“As a Commonwealth, we have an obligation to address climate change head on and a challenge this great requires action across our region and nation. That’s why I am proud to join Governor Lamont, Governor Raimondo and Mayor Bowser [DC Mayor] to launch this trailblazing program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building the clean, resilient transportation system of the future,” said Baker in December 2020. “By partnering with our neighbor states with which we share tightly connected economies and transportation systems, we can make a more significant impact on climate change while creating jobs and growing the economy as a result. Several other Transportation and Climate Initiative states are also committing to this effort today and we look forward to these partners moving ahead with us as we build out this first in the nation program.”
“Joining the Transportation and Climate Initiative is an investment in Rhode Islanders,” added Raimondo in 2020. “This first-of-its-kind program will provide $20 million annually for public transit, safe streets for bikers and pedestrians, and other green projects. Most importantly, it will provide much-needed relief for the urban communities who suffer lifelong health problems as a result of dirty air. I look forward to working with the Rhode Island General Assembly to launch this program and protect the health of Rhode Islanders.”
The fate of the initiative is tenuous at best.
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