Massachusetts signs landmark agreement to tackle transportation pollution

The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program will reduce emissions and drive clean transportation investments in the region

MASSPIRG

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed onto the landmark Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) Monday. The regional program will to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and invest in clean transportation projects, including zero emission electric vehicles, expanded public transit options and walking/biking infrastructure. 

While Massachusetts is one of the first four states and jurisdictions — which include Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and Washington, D.C — to join the initiative, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and Vermont all signed onto a statement of support, indicating that the program is likely to grow in the coming months. Public support for the program is widespread: An overwhelming majority (70 percent) of voters across the region support TCI as a means to jumpstart the economy and cut transportation emissions.

Ethan Evans, MASSPIRG Transportation Campaign Associate, issued the following statement:

“The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program is great for Massachusetts, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, and the climate as a whole. Transportation remains the biggest culprit in the commonwealth for climate-damaging emissions, and we need to shift our transportation priorities if we are to solve the climate crisis. We need urgent, ambitious action from our leaders, and today we saw what can happen when states work together for a common cause. We are grateful for Governor Baker’s support throughout the policy design process, and we look forward to his continued leadership as states begin to implement TCI-P.”

Environment Massachusetts Director Ben Hellerstein issued the following statement: 

“In the last few months, we’ve all come to appreciate just how important it is to have clean air to breathe and a safe environment to live in. We’re seeing the impacts of global warming play out in real time across the country and we’re not immune here in Massachusetts. The urgency to act has never been more clear – we need to change how we think about our transportation systems. The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program is an important step forward and will help move us toward a cleaner, healthier future for Massachusetts and our region.”