Former gov: Time to trim transit costs

LYNN – Former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis walked his talk Wednesday, when he rode public transit to Lynn where he delivered a pro-transportation spending speech to local business leaders and elected officials.”I’ve got a train to catch at 9:30,” Dukakis said as he started his speech to Lynn Business Partnership members gathered in Eastern Bank’s Market Street offices.Elected governor initially in 1974 and nominated the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in 1988, Dukakis said “inflated” tax dollar price tags for big transportation projects are keeping proposals like extending the Blue Line to Lynn from becoming realities.”We’re moving so slowly because of these estimates. We’ve got to take a sharp pencil out and look at them,” Dukakis said.State Sen. Thomas M. McGee, who addressed Partnership members along with U.S. Rep. John Tierney, estimated the Blue Line extension price tag ranges between $500 million and $600 million.Dukakis said transportation projects in the Boston region where the multi-billion dollar and multi-year Central Artery project was built, are more expensive than even bigger projects planned in Los Angeles.Dukakis said the South Station railroad terminal renovation took place during his governorship. He said transportation planners should finally fill in the mile-long “ridiculous gap” between North Station and South Station so that commuters can move quickly across Boston.For North Shore residents, Dukakis said public transit connecting both stations will provide “a seamless ride to the Prudential Center.””We need to focus intensely on making that connection,” Dukakis said.Dukakis said the 2008 economic recession provided a “missed opportunity” for launching a nationwide program focused on creating jobs through transportation construction.”It’s not make-work, it’s an investment in the future,” he told the Partnership.Tierney cited engineering estimates in stating that the nation has “a couple trillion dollars” in transportation needs requiring attention. He hopes Congress in January can refocus on transportation improvements and other national needs with cooperation between Democrats and Republicans underpinning the effort.Tierney said bipartisan efforts in 2005 aimed at transportation and other improvements must be repeated. Dukakis thinks both major parties can find common ground on transportation priorities and said history has shown their ability to do just that: He said Republicans in 1860 adopted a presidential platform built around railroad construction.”The sky’s the limit – I’m really optimistic,” he said.Dukakis rode the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green Line and the commuter rail line to Lynn Wednesday. He accepted a car ride back to Boston.