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Office of Governor Phil Murphy
The State House
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

Add Your Voice

Dear: Governor Murphy

We, the undersigned elected officials from across New Jersey, are concerned about the health, prosperity, and resiliency of the communities we represent in the wake of the global pandemic and economic crisis. We urge you to continue New Jersey’s participation in the multistate Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) to bring needed investment dollars for sustainable infrastructure and reduce pollution in our communities; we hope New Jersey will strongly advocate for equity commitments from the other states to make the regional policy as strong as possible, and that you will sign the final MOU when it is released later this year.

Thank you for your leadership in addressing the climate emergency by signing our state’s landmark electric vehicle (EV) law, rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), joining the multistate agreement to advance zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, developing the first-of-its-kind New Jersey Wind Energy Port, supporting a vision for a 100% clean energy future articulated in the updated Energy Master Plan, and helping prepare New Jersey for climate impacts with the Coastal Resilience Plan. With the important state mandate of 80% carbon emission reductions by 2050, New Jersey is emerging as a national leader in transitioning away from harmful fossil fuels to 100 percent clean energy.

To meet these ambitious goals, we must make substantial investments across New Jersey to modernize our transportation infrastructure and reduce harmful pollution that is worsening our public health and climate emergencies. 

The urgency for these investments has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we know you are very aware, more than fourteen thousand people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of people lost full-time work.1,2  Pollution from our transportation sector has substantially worsened the pandemic’s impacts. According to a recent Harvard study, air pollution is a major contributor to deaths from COVID-19 and is greatly compounding the current crisis.3 With heightened exposure to pollution, people of color are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19.4

The transportation sector makes up42 percent of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas pollution.5  Yet, pollution from transportation is clearly within our power to change. Global emissions fell by 17 percent during pandemic lockdowns, with 43 percent of the decrease coming from fewer cars, buses and trucks on the roads.6  As we rebuild our economy, we have an opportunity to reduce our pollution, increase economic opportunity, and help drive our recovery by investing in a clean, affordable, and efficient transportation sector. 

The draft policy the TCI states are discussing will generate as much as $750 million annually to invest in clean transportation projects in New Jersey. Building on and complementing RGGI, which has generated more than $155 million for our state, TCI will be a substantial new source of proceeds to support needed clean transportation projects in local communities, including transit, local bicycle and walkway projects, electric vehicle infrastructure, Safe Routes to School, and Safe Routes to Transit.7 TCI enables states to choose where proceeds are allocated, so not only do we have the ability to reinvest these sustainability projects at large, but we can tailor programs to specific community needs.

The program will reduce pollution and improve public health, and help make our communities cleaner and greener.  According to the Georgetown Climate Center, by joining the final TCI MOU, New Jersey can help reduce regional pollution by 25 percent, prevent more than 1,000 pollution-related deaths, and generate $10 billion in reduced health costs.8

New Jersey can choose to use the generated revenue to invest in projects that create multiple benefits for our communities, such as clean transit near affordable housing, safer routes to schools, and climate-resilient infrastructure. The proceeds from TCI can make this possible.

Strengthening health, prosperity, and resiliency in communities of color and economically marginalized communities must be central to any transportation investment program. We urge you to support a series of complementary policies to ensure that environmental justice principles are included in the implementation of TCI, including increased air monitoring in high-traffic areas, establishing an oversight committee of community leaders from frontline communities, and ensuring equitable investments that benefit all New Jerseyans. 

The need for bold, science-based action to address the climate emergency has never been clearer. Implementing a cap and invest program for the transportation sector will help New Jersey rebuild our economy, clean our air, and address the disproportionate impacts too many communities bear. 

We stand ready to work with you to build a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous New Jersey for all.

Sincerely,

Members, Elected Officials to Protect America

    
Paul AnzanoStefan ArmingtonDerek ArmsteadRobert ArtisWilliam Baig
HopewellMorristownLindenProspect ParkPompton Lakes
MayorCouncil PresidentMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Mercer CountyMorris CountyUnion CountyPassaic CountyPassaic County
     
Jackie Benjamin LieberbergAshley BennettBrandon BernierRavinder BhallaColleen Bianco Bezich
MillburnAtlanticRoselleHobokenHaddonfield
MayorCommissionerCouncilmemberMayorCommissioner
Essex CountyAtlantic CountyUnion CountyHudson CountyCamden County
     
Jerell BlakeleyJ. BollwageLinda BonifaceJames BoyesJohn Brodowski
TrentonElizabethRochelle ParkTown of WestfieldBordentown City
CouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmemberDeputy Mayor
Mercer CountyUnion CountyBergen CountyUnion CountyBurlington County
     
Marge Caldwell-WilsonGian-Paolo CaminitiEileen ChapmanKaren ChewDan Chiariello
TrentonPeapack-GladstoneAsbury ParkChesilhurtSparta
Council Vice PresidentCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Mercer CountySomerset CountyMonmouth CountyCamden CountySussex County
     
Raymond CipolliniWalter ClarkeBrittany ClaybrooksSheena CollumHerb Conaway
Peapack-GladstoneSouth OrangeEast OrangeSouth Orange Village7Th Legislative District
CouncilmemberTrusteeCouncilmemberVillage PresidentAssembly Member
Sussex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyBurlington County
     
Robert ConleyTyshammie CooperSarah CruzDean DafisVictor De Luca
MadisonEssexBloomfieldMaplewoodMaplewood
MayorCommissionerCouncilmemberDeputy MayorCommittee Member
Morris CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyEssex County
     
Jason DeliaTimothy DoughertyJohn DuceyTerry DuffySharon Earley
MetuchenMorristownBrickPassaicWoodlynne
CouncilmemberMayorMayorCommissionerCouncilmember
Middlesex CountyMorris CountyOcean CountyPassaic CountyCamden County
     
Tency EasonRachel EhrlichJillian FerdinandRudy FernandezTiffanie Fisher
OrangeMadisonHasbrouck Heights School BoardLivingstonHoboken
Council Vice PresidentCouncilmemberBoard MemberMayorCouncilmember
Essex CountyMorris CountyBergen CountyEssex CountyHudson County
     
Eileen FishmanCaren FitzpatrickDavid FlahertyBernadette FlaimCharnette Frederic
RoselandAtlanticSwedesboroLeoniaIrvington
CouncilmemberCommissionerCouncilmemberCouncilwomanVice President
Essex CountyAtlantic CountyGloucester CountyBergen CountyEssex County
     
Gail FriedbergEarl GageAlfonso GiampolaEdward GiblinBrendan Gill
Fair LawnSalemPaulsboroVeronaEssex
CouncilmemberCouncil PresidentCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCommission President
Bergen CountyEssex CountyGloucester CountyEssex CountyEssex County
     
Patrick GilliganCasim GomezCarlos GonzalezRussell GrahamReed Gusciora
StratfordEast OrangeNewarkGarwoodTrenton
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayor
Camden CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyUnion CountyMercer County
     
Chris HillmannLori HohenleitnerPeter HughesCurtis JenkinsNicholas Joanow
Hasbrouck HeightsAtlantic HighlandsGlen RidgeCamdenBloomfield
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Bergen CountyMonmouth CountyEssex CountyCamden CountyEssex County
     
Linda KarlovitchDevra KeenanJohn KelleyPaul KennedyShawn R. Klein, Md
KenilworthMontgomery TownshipCaldwellOcean GateLivingston
MayorMayorMayorMayorDeputy Mayor
Union CountySomerset CountyEssex CountyOcean CountyEssex County
     
Andrew KoontzJonathan LaceGerry LaudatiMarc LazarowCassandra Lazzara
CountyCaldwellKenilworthGarwoodPassaic
CommissionerCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCommission Director
Mercer CountyEssex CountyUnion CountyUnion CountyPassaic County
     
Liz LempertPat LeporeEvelyn LeverettRobert LewandowskiPaul Lisovicz
PrincetonPassaicWinslowCollingswoodGlen Ridge
MayorCommissioner Deputy DirectorCouncilmemberCommissionerCouncilmember
Mercer CountyPassaic CountyAtlantic CountyCamden CountyEssex County
     
Jeremy LongShawn LudwigJames MaleyBetsy McbrideJanice McCarthy
FlemingtonBarringtonCollingswoodPennsaukenParsippany
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Hunterdon CountyCamden CountyCamden CountyCamden CountyMorris County
     
Susan McCartneyJack McEvoyChristine McGrathAlexander MirabellaJohn Moor
West OrangeVeronaVeronaUnionAsbury Park
CouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCommission ChairMayor
Essex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyUnion CountyMonmouth County
     
Ann Marie MorrowThomas MullaheySharon NadrowskiJohn NapolitaniJosephine Noone
Glen RidgeRutherfordBayonneOceanWashington
CouncilmemberCouncil PresidentCouncil PresidentDeputy MayorCouncilmember
Essex CountyBergen CountyHudson CountyMonmouth CountyWarren County
     
Kathleen O'KeefeTom OttosonVictoria PachecoDaniel ParkStuart Patrick
RingwoodHaddon HeightsKeyportTenaflyGlen Ridge
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayor
Passaic CountyCamden CountyMonmouth CountyBergen CountyEssex County
     
Patricia Perkins-AugusteSteve PollardLori Price AbramsJohn RanieriSteven Reyngoudt
ElizabethElizabethMontclairRunnemedeHasbrouck Heights
Council PresidentCouncil PresidentCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Union CountyCamden CountyEssex CountyCamden CountyBergen County
     
Anthony RiccardiRichard RigogliosoJermaine RobinsonRichard RockwellFrank Rodgers
StanhopeGarfieldJersey CityBloomfieldCaldwell
CouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Sussex CountyBergen CountyHudson CountyEssex CountyEssex County
     
John RothBob RussoKevin RyanSteve SchnallGeorge Schnurr
MahwahMontclairVeronaSouth OrangeFreehold Borough
MayorCouncilmemberCouncilmemberTrusteeCouncilmember
Bergen CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyMonmouth County
     
Tracy SchoenbergKaleem ShabazzDavid SimsBalvir SinghMichael Soriano
OradellAtlantic CityHackensackBurlingtonParsippany-Troy Hills
Council PresidentCouncilmemberDeputy MayorCommissionerMayor
Bergen CountyAtlantic CountyBergen CountyBurlington CountyMorris County
     
Bert SteinmannJohn StilloDennis SullivanPatricia Tartaglia PassioRichard Tighe
EwingPohatcongSomervilleRunnemedeHamilton
MayorCouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Mercer CountyWarren CountySomerset CountyCamden CountyMercer County
     
Ryan UllmanAnthony VaussMichael VieiraMarc VojnichAnita Voogt
MaywoodIrvingtonLivingstonRochelle ParkLong Branch
CouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilwoman
Bergen CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyBergen CountyMonmouth County
     
Jenn WalshJoyce WattermanMichelle WeaverLaurence WhiteNicholas Williams
Rocky HillJersey CityRiverside TownshipMantolokingNeptune
CouncilmemberCouncil PresidentCommittee MemberMayorDeputy Mayor
Somerset CountyHudson CountyBurlington CountyOcean CountyMonmouth County
     
Dolores WitkoSuzanne WoodardAdrienne WootenPeter YacobellisMichele Yamakaitis
ClosterBurlington CityOrangeMontclairLinden
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncil President
Bergen CountyBurlington CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyUnion County
     
Edward ZipprichBob Zuckerman   
Red BankSouth Orange   
CouncilmemberTrustee   
Monmouth CountyEssex County  

*Titles reflect elected position at the time of signing.

Paul AnzanoStefan ArmingtonDerek ArmsteadRobert Artis
MayorCouncilmemberMayorCouncilmember
HopewellMorristownLindenProspect Park
Mercer CountyMorris CountyUnion CountyPassaic County




William BaigJackie Benjamin  LieberAshley BennettBrandon Bernier
CouncilmemberMayorCommissionerCouncilmember
Pompton LakesMillburnAtlantic CountyRoselle
Passaic CountyEssex County
Union County

Ravi BhallaColleen Bianco BezichJerell BlakeleyChristian Bollwage
MayorCommissionerCouncilmemberMayor
HobokenHaddonfieldTrentonElizabeth
Hudson CountyCamden CountyMercer CountyUnion County

Linda BonifaceJohn BrodowskiMarge Caldwell-WilsonGian-Paolo Caminiti
CouncilmemberDeputy MayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Rochelle ParkBordentown CityTrentonPeapack-Gladstone
Bergen CountyBurlington CountyMercer CountySomerset County

Eileen ChapmanKaren ChewDan ChiarielloRaymond Cipollini
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Asbury ParkChesilhurstSpartaStanhope
Monmouth CountyCamden CountySussex CountySussex County

Walter ClarkeBrittany ClaybrooksSheena CollumHerb Conaway
TrusteeCouncilmemberVillage PresidentState Representative
South Orange VillageEast OrangeSouth Orange VillageDistrict 7
Essex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyBurlington County

Robert ConleyTyshammie CooperSarah CruzDean Dafis
MayorCommissionerCouncilmemberDeputy Mayor
MadisonEssex CountyBloomfieldMaplewood
Morris County
Essex CountyEssex County

Victor De LucaJason DeliaTimothy DoughertyJohn Ducey
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayorMayor
MaplewoodMetuchenMorristownBrick
Essex CountyMiddlesex CountyMorris CountyOcean County

Terry DuffySharon EarleyTency EasonRachel Ehrlich
CommissionerCouncilmemberCouncil PresidentCouncilmember
Passaic CountyWoodlynneOrangeMadison

Camden CountyEssex CountyMorris County

Jillian FerdinandMayor Rudy FernandezTiffanie FisherEileen Fishman
CouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Hasbrouck HeightsLivingstonHobokenRoseland
Bergen CountyEssex CountyHudson CountyEssex County

Caren FitzpatrickDavid FlahertyBernadette FlaimCharnette Frederic
CommissionerCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Atlantic CountySwedesboroLeoniaIrvington

Gloucester CountyBergen CountyEssex County

Gail FriedbergEarl GageAlfonso GiampolaEdward "Ted" Giblin
Deputy MayorCouncil PresidentCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Fair LawnSalemPaulsboroGeorgia
Bergen CountyEssex CountyGloucester CountyEssex County

Brendan GillPatrick GilliganCasim GomezCarlos Gonzalez
Commissioner PresidentCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
Essex CountyStratfordEast OrangeNewark

Camden CountyEssex CountyEssex County

Russell GrahamW. Reed GuscioraChris HillmannLori Hohenleitner
CouncilmemberMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
GarwoodTrentonHasbrouck HeightsAtlantic Highlands
Union CountyMercer CountyBergen CountyMonmouth County

Peter HughesCurtis JenkinsNicholas JoanowLinda Karlovitch
CouncilmemberCouncil PresidentCouncilmemberMayor
Glen RidgeCamden CountyBloomfieldKenilworth
Essex County
Essex CountyUnion County

John KelleyPaul KennedyShawn R. Klein, MdAndrew Koontz
MayorMayorDeputy MayorCommissioner
CaldwellOcean GateLivingstonMercer
Essex CountyOcean CountyEssex CountyMercer County

Jonathan LaceGerry LaudatiMarc LazarowCassandra Lazzara
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCommissioner Deputy Direct
CaldwellKenilworthGarwoodPassaic County
Essex CountyUnion CountyUnion County

Liz LempertPat LeporeEvelyn LeverettRobert Lewandowski
MayorCommissioner Deputy DirectCouncilmemberCommissioner
PrincetonPassaic CountyWinslowCollingswood
Mercer County
Camden CountyCamden County

Paul LisoviczJeremy LongShawn LudwigJames Maley
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayor
Glen RidgeFlemingtonBarringtonCollingswood
Essex CountyHunterdon CountyCamden CountyCamden County

Betsy McbrideJanice MccarthySusan McCartneyJack McEvoy
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayor
PennsaukenParsippanyWest OrangeVerona
Camden CountyMorris CountyEssex CountyEssex County

Christine McGrathAlexander MirabellaJohn MoorAnn Marie Morrow
CouncilmemberCommissionerMayorCouncilmember
VeronaUnion CountyAsbury ParkGlen Ridge
Essex County
Monmouth CountyEssex County

Tom MullaheySharon NadrowskiJohn NapolitaniJosephine Noone
Council PresidentCouncil PresidentDeputy MayorCouncilmember
RutherfordBayonneOceanWashington
Bergen CountyHudson CountyMonmouth CountyWarren County

Kathleen O'KeefeTom OttosonVictoria PachecoDaniel Park
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmember
RingwoodHaddon HeightsKeyportTenafly
Passaic CountyCamden CountyMonmouth CountyBergen County

Stuart PatrickPatricia Perkins-AugusteSteve PollardLori Price Abrams
MayorCouncilmemberCouncil PresidentCouncilmember
Glen RidgeElizabethLawnsideMontclair
Essex CountyUnion CountyCamden CountyEssex County

John RanieriSteven ReyngoudtAnthony RiccardiRichard Rigoglioso
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayor
RunnemedeHasbrouck HeightsStanhopeGarfield
Camden CountyBergen CountySussex CountyBergen County

Jermaine RobinsonRichard RockwellFrank RodgersJohn Roth
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberMayor
Jersey CityBloomfieldCaldwellMahwah
Hudson CountyEssex CountyCanyon CountyBergen County

Bob RussoKevin RyanSteve SchnallGeorge Schnurr
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberTrusteeCouncilmember
MontclairVeronaSouth Orange VillageFreehold
Essex CountyEssex CountyEssex CountyMonmouth County

Tracy SchoenbergKaleem ShabazzDavid SimsBalvir Singh
Council PresidentCouncilmemberDeputy MayorCounty Commissioner
OradellAtlantic CityHackensackBurlington
Bergen CountyAtlantic CountyBergen CountyBurlington County

Michael SorianoBert SteinmannJohn StilloPatricia Tartaglia Passio
MayorMayorCouncilmemberCouncilmember
ParsippanyEwingPohatcongRunnemede
Morris CountyMercer CountyWarren CountyCamden County

Rick TigheRyan UllmanAnthony VaussMichael Vieira
Council PresidentCouncilmemberMayorCouncilmember
HamiltonMaywoodIrvingtonLivingston
Mercer CountyBergen CountyEssex CountyEssex County

Marc VojnichAnita VoogtJenn WalshMichael Warren
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilmemberCommittee Member
Rochelle ParkLong BranchRocky HillRochelle Park
Bergen CountyMonmouth CountySomerset CountyBergen County

Joyce WattermanLaurence WhiteNicholas WilliamsDolores Witko
Council PresidentMayorDeputy MayorCouncilmember
Jersey CityMantolokingNeptuneCloster
Hudson CountyOcean CountyMonmouth CountyBergen County

Suzanne WoodardAdrienne WootenPeter YacobellisMichele Yamakaitis
CouncilmemberCouncilmemberCouncilorCouncil President
Burlington CityEssex CountyMontclairLinden
Burlington County
Essex CountyUnion County

Ed ZipprichBob Zuckerman
CouncilmemberTrustee
Red BankSouth Orange Village
Monmouth CountyEssex County

* Reflect Titles at the time of signing.

References

    1. Communicable Disease Service. “New Jersey Covid-19 Dashboard.” Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, New Jersey COVID-19 Dashboard, State of New Jersey Department of Health, 9 July 2020, www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml 
    2. “New Jersey Economy at a Glance.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 7 July 2020, www.bls.gov/eag/eag.nj.htm 
    3. Wu, Xiao, et al. COVID-19 PM2.5, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, 24 Apr. 2020, www.projects.iq.harvard.edu/covid-pm   
    4. Ford, Tiffany, et al. “Race Gaps in COVID-19 Deaths Are Even Bigger than They Appear.” Brookings, Brookings, 17 June 2020, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/06/16/race-gaps-in-covid-19-deaths-are-even-bigger-than-they-appear/
    5. “Statewide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory.” NJ Emissions Profile, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 29 Oct. 2019, www.state.nj.us/dep/aqes/oce-ghgei.html 
    6. Le Quéré, C., Jackson, R.B., Jones, M.W. et al. Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 forced confinement. Nat. Clim. Chang. 10, 647–653 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0797-x 
    7. “TCI’s Regional Policy Design Process.” Transportation and Climate Initiative, Transportation and Climate Initiative of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, 17 Dec. 2019, www.transportationandclimate.org/main-menu/tcis-regional-policy-design-process-2019 
    8. “TCI Modeling Results Summary”, Georgetown Climate Center, Georgetown University,  17 Dec. 2019, https://www.transportationandclimate.org/sites/default/files/TCI%20Modeling-Results-Summary_12.17.2019.pdf