TRANSPORTATION, THE ENVIRONMENT AND TCI-P LEGISLATION; PARKING LET’S THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

I’ve always loved science since getting my first microscope when I was in middle school.  I started out with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology, shifted to a Master’s in Public Administration in Finance and Doctorate in Business Administration.  My career clearly had another path for me which includes Real Estate Asset Management; Finance and Budget Management; Parking, Transportation and Mobility; and a 3-year stint managing solid waste administration.  Life is funny that way! 

Throughout my career, I have always created industry partnerships and collaborations.  Related to parking and the environment this includes the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, hybrid and electric maintenance and customer service vehicles, solar powered pay stations kiosks, green infrastructure technology, LED lighting installations and touchless parking options. 

Transportation systems produce the largest percentage of greenhouse emissions in the US (over 28%).  President Joe Biden is committed to addressing environmental issues through his multi trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal. 

            In an effort to advance policies to reduce these emissions while creating local environmental investing strategies, several states have signed an historic multijurisdictional Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) called the Transportation Climate Initiative Program (TCIP) that commits each state and identifies policies that advance environmental programs that will improve quality of life, create jobs and maintain critical mobility sources.

In December 2020 CT Governor Lamont joined 13 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states including the District of Columbia to create an historic multijurisdictional program that will decrease greenhouse carbon emissions by 26% over 10 years from cars, trucks and other motor vehicles and increase investments in an equitable, cleaner, and more resilient transportation system. The proposal is advancing  through the CT State Legislature under Senate Bill 884 – An Act Reducing Transportation – Related Carbon Emissions.

            The TCI-P will “cap” (or limit) carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline and on road diesel fuel and require suppliers to purchase “allowances” for carbon emissions produced by fuel covered by the cap.  It is expected that the cap will decline over time which will translate into reduced emissions.  The MOU commits each jurisdiction to invest the proceeds from the allowances to further reduce emission and air pollution from transportation systems. 

This concept of cap, invest, allowances, exchange and trade are not new to CT as it relates to reducing pollution.  In 2001 the CT DEEP and the NY DEC worked together to develop and implement the Nitrogen Control Program for Long Island Sound.  The program created the Nitrogen Credit Exchange program.  The strategy was to reduce the nitrogen loading discharged into the Long Island Sound. At the time, all 79 sewage treatment plants participated with some receiving and some giving credits depending on the amount of nitrogen pollutant removed from Long Island Sound.  Rewards for credits were transferred into further environmental investments to reduce nitrogen pollutants from Long Island Sound.  Through this very effective ‘trading’ program nitrogen pollutants were reduced by 64% in 2015.

The overall goals of the TCI-P are to:

·      Reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector

·      Improve air quality and public health, increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, and provide for more affordable access to clean transportation choices

·      Promote local economic opportunity and create high quality jobs

·      Level the playing field by creating more equity in those communities that are overburdened by air pollutants and underserved by public transportation systems.

·      Encourage increased investment in otherwise non attractive development areas.

It is expected that this program will help to decrease greenhouse emissions by over 26% in the next 10 years.  The strategy to achieve this goal laid out in the MOU is to develop a ‘cap and invest’ allowance program.  This is a familiar strategy and market-based policy tool used in the investment world around the US.  The way the program works is to auction emission ‘allowances’ and invest the proceeds in projects and programs that continue to reduce air pollution.  The TCI-P will ‘cap’ carbon emissions from gasoline and diesel fuel sold in CT and will require wholesale fuel suppliers to hold allowances to cover these emissions.  Each allowance represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide.  Fuel suppliers can purchase emission allowances at auctions and trade allowances with other market participants.  The proceeds from the allowance auctions go back to each jurisdiction to reinvest in clean transportation projects and programs.

            The State of CT expects about $89.0 - $117 million in allowances over the next 10 years. Potential investments could be used to modernize and enhance transportation in the State of CT; decrease carbon emissions, expand public transportation, electrify the bus fleet, improve bus shelter infrastructure, provide for biking and walking enhancements including sidewalk repair and expansion and safety; roundabout installations; traffic signal modernization and synchronization; railroad improvements, rideshare programs and broadband access to reduce the digital divide.

            In addition to this very long list of programs and projects, the allowance funding will also be allocated to implementing and improving electric vehicle charging station infrastructure and improving access and convenience.  By 2030, the State of Ct expects to have at least 50% of all cars and light duty trucks and 30% of buses purchased or leased by the state must be zero emission vehicles (ZEV).

            What does this initiative and other environmental initiatives have to do with parking?  A lot.  Parking is critical to the implementation of many environmental programs and projects and will continue to play a major role.  During the pandemic we all learned to pivot and adjust and repurpose and leverage parking assets to create economic activity and opportunity.  There is a huge opportunity for the parking industry to step up and be part of the process, the program, the future.  We all know that us humans are NOT giving up our cars any time soon.  But vehicles are already transitioning to hybrid and electric and soon thereafter autonomous vehicles will become mainstreamed.  The CTDOT/CTTransit is expecting to test autonomous buses this year through a $93 million grant from FTA and gather data for the long-term permanent implementation.  All these vehicles still need to be ‘parked’ somewhere.  There are technical, infrastructure and parking management opportunities everywhere.  We are all now talking about curb management and mobility hubs that will safely and equitably manage all mobility sectors.  Let’s get together and think outside the box!