MBTA’s South Station renamed Governor Michael S. Dukakis South Station Transportation Center

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has rededicated the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) South Station as "Governor Michael S. Dukakis South Station Transportation Center" in recognition of the former Governor's devotion to public transportation and advocacy.

 

“Governor Dukakis has been a tireless and effective advocate for public transportation for decades,” said Gov. Patrick. “On behalf of the people of the commonwealth, I am honored to rename South Station as ‘The Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station’ to celebrate his lasting work to improve public transportation and through it the economy and quality of life in the commonwealth.”

During his time in office, Gov. Dukakis was known to take the MBTA and received national attention for his public transit ridership and he supported increased transportation funding to improve and extend subway and commuter rail service in order to promote economic growth and increase equitable opportunities across commonwealth communities. A key measure within Gov. Dukakis’ transportation initiatives was safety, helping to ensure that riders felt safe while riding transit. This focus resulted in the MBTA Police becoming the first department in Massachusetts and the first Transit Police Department in the country to be accredited by the National Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

“This is a fitting tribute to Gov. Dukakis, who oversaw a renovation of South Station while in office and made transportation one of his top priorities,” said Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA-7). “Gov. Dukakis is a vocal champion of improving and expanding public transit, recognizing its importance to our economy and quality of life. His advocacy resulted in an expanded MBTA transit map and increased transportation funding.”

South Station opened in 1898 and underwent a complete overhaul in the 1980s while Dukakis was in office, allowing for increased capacity and direct access to Red Line service. South Station is the busiest station within the entire MBTA system and currently serves more than 25,000 riders on a typical weekday, not including Amtrak and private bus passengers.

“Governor Dukakis is not just a proponent of public transportation, he is one of the MBTA’s best customers,” said MBTA General Manager, Dr. Beverly Scott. “I am thrilled to be able to be here today to honor the work of someone so dedicated to growth and improvement of public transportation here in Massachusetts.”

Under the Dukakis Administration, the Red Line expansion into North Cambridge and Somerville allowed for the March 30, 1985 opening of Alewife Station. In addition, Gov. Dukakis oversaw the purchase of the majority of the rail lines that serve Eastern Massachusetts, allowing for the MBTA to strengthen its reach across these lines. The expansion of the Orange Line north to Malden and the relocation of its southern portion were projects also headed by the Dukakis Administration.

In 1988, Gov. Dukakis was the democratic nominee for president. Following his nomination, he served on the Amtrak Board of Directors as an advocate for improved high-speed rail. Currently, Gov. Dukakis is a professor of political science at Northeastern University, home of the Michael & Kitty Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy and a visiting professor at the School of Public Policy at the University of California in Los Angeles where he leads research focused on transportation issues, national health care policy reform and the lessons that national policy makers can learn from state reform efforts.

 

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