Connecticut General Assembly
State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

Subject: Medical and Healthcare Professionals’ Support for Transportation and Climate Initiative

Dear Connecticut House and Senate Legislative Leadership,

As medical and healthcare professionals sworn to protect the health and well-being of individuals, we voice our support for the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). We recognize that transportation pollution has resulted in poor air quality in our communities and significant respiratory and cardiovascular issues for Connecticut residents. TCI enables our region to improve our air quality and the public health of our communities.

The majority of automobiles, buses and trucks rely on fossil fuels, which release air pollution that is a harm to human health, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and other types of hydrocarbons and smog-forming pollutants. These pollutants are known to exacerbate respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, increase the risks from other health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, premature death, and significantly increases human and financial healthcare costs. Children, people of color, the elderly, residents with pre-existing conditions and those living in areas overburdened by pollution are especially vulnerable to air pollution. A 2017 study showed that even short term exposure to air pollution at levels significantly below national standards can harm health and correlated with premature death among the elderly.  TCI would allow the state to make the necessary investments in our communities to reduce air pollution in our communities by increasing clean vehicle and public transportation options.

TCI is a Win for Connecticut’s Air Quality
In 2019, the American Lung Association ranked CT as the 10th worst state for smog (ozone pollution). High levels of smog cause poor air quality and dangerous conditions for individuals with breathing problems. Smog is linked to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and traffic congestion. TCI would make critical investments in our transportation system to reduce the number of fossil fueled vehicles, and increase clean transportation options. With less traffic congestion and fewer ICE vehicles, our state’s smog levels would decrease, leading to better air quality for our communities.

TCI Improves Connecticut’s Public Health
TCI would improve the public health of our region for current and future generations. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health estimate that once fully implemented TCI would avoid over 300 deaths per year, and prevent thousands of children from having asthma-related problems. Families would be able to save money on healthcare expenses. Additionally, TCI would guarantee that transportation and infrastructure investments would be made in underserved and overburdened municipalities. TCI’s focus on equity guarantees that individuals, regardless of the zip code they live in, would have better air quality and access to clean transportation. An Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Board would provide oversight to guide these important investments. TCI puts Connecticut on a path to reduce air pollution in our communities, and transition away from our reliance on carbon-emitting energy sources.

Creates Clean Jobs
TCI accomplishes three important goals: (1) reduces air pollution, (2) fosters healthy communities, and (3) creates economic opportunities. Through TCI, CT, MA, RI, and Washington DC would invest $300 million dollars per year into our region’s transportation and infrastructure system. TCI would create jobs in construction, public transportation, telecommunications, and manufacturing. As Connecticut seeks to recover from the COVID-19 recession, it is essential that our recovery creates jobs that do not harm public health.

Health and Economic Benefits for Rural and Urban Communities
In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that there are municipalities that are overburdened by air pollution. There is also a number of municipalities underserved by the state’s transportation system. TCI would prioritize these communities to ensure that the municipalities that need investment most receive at least 50% of the TCI investments. These investments would include expanding access to reliable and convenient public transportation, increasing electric vehicle infrastructure, and expanding opportunities for active transportation such as biking and walking. TCI would include significant investments for improvements and repairs to infrastructure across all communities.

Public health needs to be at the forefront of policy-making in Connecticut. Connecticut’s transportation system has negatively impacted the health of our communities. TCI would improve Connecticut’s air quality, improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. We encourage you to pass the necessary legislation to implement the TCI in Connecticut.

Sincerely,

Anne Hulick, Registered Nurse (RN MS)
Connecticut Director of Clean Water Action, Coalition for Safe and Healthy Connecticut
Cromwell, CT

Chavon Hamilton-Burgess
Founder and Executive Director of Hartford Health Initiative
Hartford, CT

Cheryl Anderson, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Connecticut Chapter Climate Advocate of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Cynthia Holle, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP, MBA, RN, NHDP-BC)
Vice President of CT Nurses Association
Salem, CT

Alexis Hopkins, Master of Public Health (MPH)
Founder of LRH Wellness
New Haven, CT

Eileen O'Donnell, Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Physicians for Women's Health
Clinton, CT

Katie Huffling, Master of Science (MS, RN, CNM, FAAN)
Executive Director
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Mount Rainier, MD

Mark Mitchell, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Associate Professor
George Mason University
Hartford, CT

David Hill, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Director of Clinical Research
Waterbury Pulmonary Associates
American Lung Association Board Member
Middlebury, CT

Kirsten Ek, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Avon, CT

Jacob Scozzafafa, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT, Ph.D.)
Director of Health Science
Quinnipiac University, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Middlebury, CT

Momina Salmon, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Assistant Professor
UConn Health Center
South Glastonbury, CT

Cheryl Anderson, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Assistant Professor
Yale Medicine
Madison, CT

Anisha Advani, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Guilford, CT

Anita Vasudevan, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
New Haven, CT

Adam Fischler, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Avon, CT

Diana Sewell, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Avon, CT

Gary Spinner, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
New Haven, CT

Karen Jubanyik, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
New Haven, CT

Shirley McCarthy, Doctor of Medicine (MD, Ph.D.)
Branford, CT

Aldo Peixoto, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
New Haven, CT

Barbara O’Neill, Registered Nurse (RN, Ph.D.)
New London, CT

Hacah Goggin, Registered Nurse, Master of Science in Nursing (RN MSN)
Southington, CT

Joan Braun, Registered Nurse (RN)
School Nurse
Milford, CT

Shirley Sargent, Registered Nurse (RN, Ph.D.)
Stonington, CT

Andrea Yuliano, Registered Nurse (RN)
West Hartford, CT

Nancy Spadafora, Registered Nurse (RN)
Stonington, CT

Wesley Shay, Radiological Assistant
Trumbull, CT

Luis Anez, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Hamden, CT

Kaveh Khoshnood, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D., MPH)
New Haven, CT

Diana M. Roman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.)
West Hartford, CT

Linda Hayes-Lutian, Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Milford, CT

Jane T. Reinsch, Physical Therapist (PT)
Windsor, CT

Mary Accurso, Medical Student
West Hartford, CT

Jennifer Casparino, Medical/Master of Public Health Student
Farmington, CT

Keanna Chang, Medical Student
Farmington, CT

Paige Holden, Medical Student
Granby, CT

Talia Staiger, Dental Student
Cromwell, CT

Addison Vitols, Dental Student
West Hartford, CT