Matt Casale
Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to tackle transportation emissions through regional collaboration
Media Contacts
Nine states and D.C. announced plans to move forward with a regional policy to clean up transportation
U.S. PIRG
Media Contacts:
Matt Casale, U.S. PIRG, 617-747-4314, [email protected]
Ross Sherman, Communications Associate, 303-573-1358, [email protected]
BOSTON — Today, nine governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C. announced that they will create and implement a region-wide policy to curb emissions from transportation, now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The announcement marks the next step in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) process, and represents significant, bipartisan movement towards eliminating the pollution that is causing global warming and harming public health.
“Americans want a modern transportation system that is cleaner, healthier and more efficient, and we applaud the group of governors for moving us toward that goal,” said Matt Casale, U.S. PIRG transportation campaign director. “To protect our health and the environment, local and state governments must continue to take bold action to reduce transportation-related pollution.”
TCI is a regional collaboration of 13 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions that seeks to develop clean energy, and reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. Over the past year, the group has held several listening sessions to engage the public on the process across the region. At the listening sessions, there was broad, public support for a strong, region-wide policy to reduce pollution and increase clean transportation options, including through greater access to public transit, safe walking and biking options, and electric vehicles.
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., all joined the regional collaboration.
“We are one step closer to getting the 21st century transportation system we need and deserve,” said Casale.
The nine states and D.C. will now design a regional low-carbon transportation policy proposal that would cap and reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels through a cap-and-invest program or other pricing mechanism, and allow each jurisdiction to invest proceeds from the program into low-carbon and more resilient transportation infrastructure. They plan to complete the policy development process within one year.
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