The climate crisis is damaging our health and our planet. Addressing climate change begins with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector is responsible for 38% of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere - more than double the emissions from any other industry. Transportation emissions are linked to asthma, heart disease, higher rates of infant mortality, and other respiratory and cardiovascular health impacts. 
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States are stepping up to address this challenge. The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) is a regional collaboration of 13 states seeking to improve transportation, develop our clean energy economy and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
TCI is the most significant climate change, public health and equity program that our state has seen in a decade. It will reduce air pollution by 26% in 10 years while giving Connecticut a technological edge, good-paying jobs, expanded transit systems, investments into our communities, and rare opportunities for matching infrastructure funds from the Federal Government. ​

IMPROVE HEALTH & EQUITY

Climate change impacts everyone's health. Connecticut's air quality is ranked among the worst in the country, and this makes residents more vulnerable to respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. Communities of color are forced to breathe in high levels of fuel pollution from transportation emissions and polluting industries that are concentrated in their neighborhoods. As a result, asthma rates in CT's urban schools are 50% higher than their rural counterparts. Children can't learn if they can't breathe, and parents are forced to miss work for expensive ER visits. 

How Will TCI Help?
TCI will reduce transportation emissions by 26% in 10 years, improving CT's air quality, saving 300 lives and countless health costs per year. In order to bring equitable investments into our communities, at least 50% of TCI funds will be invested back into communities overburdened by air pollution and underserved by the transportation system (~$50M/year). These investments can include: 
  • Electric transit & school buses
  • Pedestrian & bike safety
  • Expand & improve bus service
  • Air quality monitoring

DEEP and DOT will establish an Equity & Environmental Justice Advisory Board composed of community residents and other stakeholders to ensure TCI funds are spent equitably. This board will gather input and advise on the best investments to benefit underserved, environmental justice communities across the state.  

HOW DOES TCI WORK?

TCI sets a cap on carbon emissions for fossil fuel wholesalers in the region, and gradually lowers that cap overtime. Polluters purchase emissions allowances through an auction, and the proceeds are then invested in projects to reduce transportation emissions and improve transportation infrastructure throughout Connecticut. Attaching a price to carbon makes polluters pay for the harm they've caused while encouraging big businesses to compete to reduce their carbon emissions. This program is critical to  help Connecticut meet its emissions goal of 45% below 2001 levels of GHG emissions by 2030. 

The auction allowances would allow for $2.7 billion to be re-invested in clean transportation options by 2030. TCI will create over 23,000 jobs in CT, equating to $2.2 billion in wages and $7 billion in new business sales (Acadia Center). 
Have more questions on TCI? Visit DEEP's Transportation Climate Initiative FAQ page

EFFECTS ON CONSUMERS

TCI is built with multiple consumer protection safeguards which limit the impact of future uncertainties on prices at the pump. Funds cannot be raided and will be invested in transit improvements, electric vehicle  bus conversions, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, pedestrian and bike safety, and high-speed internet in our rural communities. 

Using the most conservative estimates, the cost to consumers would be less than $37 per year. The health care costs of air pollution ($100 million per year in Connecticut for asthma care alone) and the costs of continuing inaction on climate change, far exceed the direct cost of TCI to consumers. 
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TCI is the fastest, most effective, and most equitable way to transition to a clean energy economy. TCI will position the northeast as an effective leader in the fight against climate change.