Critical Junction

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld said in 1991 that if there
wasn’t a commuter rail from Boston to New Bedford and Fall River by 1997, to
go ahead and sue him, state Sen. Mark C. Montigny recalls.


That guarantee has been a running joke for years.


When Gov. Mitt Romney went into office, his administration put the progressing
commuter rail project on hold to review other projects, frustrating area representatives.
Now Montigny and others, who have been trying to get a rail system connection
to New Bedford and Fall River for more than a decade, are forming a coalition
to tell the governor he’s made a poor decision.


“The process started in 1993. We’ve crossed every hurdle and then Romney came
along,” said Montigny, a Democrat representing New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth,
Fairhaven and Mattapoisett. “We aren’t going away on this one. There are a lot
of frustrated people throughout the state who aren’t going to stand for this.
We are ready to use all of our political capital to get this commuter rail.”


Former Massachusetts Gov. and 1988 Democratic presidential candidate Michael
Dukakis, who is credited with making the Mass Transit system widespread during
his three terms in office, said if area representatives throw their weight behind
this issue, the Legislature will likely listen.


“We are facing a major decision point. Those of us who feel strongly have
to organize and tell the governor his priority needs to be this rail,” Dukakis
said. “My concern is the administration is focused on mega-projects for Boston
that aren’t going to benefit the rest of the state. The money they are spending
on the bus tunnel project, which I think is a complete waste, could be used
to create a new rail for Fall River and New Bedford.”


Projects believed to be taking precedence over the Fall River/New Bedford
rail include a $601 million Silver Line bus tunnel project from Boston’s South
Station to Logan International Airport and a $35 million Cape Cod rotary project.


The Silver Line bus tunnel project in Boston is in its first phase of construction
and is set for completion some time next year.


This situation mirrors that of the 1970s, Dukakis said, when plans to build
a southwest highway corridor through Boston would have taken the place of transit
expansion had it not been for his administration fighting for it.


“We have to do the same thing we did in the ’70s and kill any further highway
construction and take that money and put it into rail expansion. Boston has
the best public transportation system in the country. We don’t need a bus tunnel
in Boston,” Dukakis said.


Area politicians concede that partisan interest played a role in Romney’s
decision.


“I’m skeptical of the reason they gave for stalling because we’ve seen them
take on other projects that are politically important instead,” Fall River Mayor
Edward M. Lambert said. “Nearly every other part of the state has access to
a commuter rail. southeastern Massachusetts is an obvious omission.


“I hope people aren’t sitting back and accepting this as fate, that we never
get any breaks. We are ready to play hardball on this.”


Massachusetts Transportation Department Spokesperson Jonathon Carlisle refutes
claims that the current Republican administration is ignoring the heavy Democratic
region of southeastern Massachusetts.


“Partisanship does not play a role in transportation. We look at how many
people will be using the rail and how practical a project is,” Carlisle said.
“We’ve had conversations with legislative delegations and found that (the Fall
River/New Bedford rail project) is going to be an $800 million project. At this
point, it is a cost problem. … It could be re-visited at some point.”


A commuter rail is expected to resolve housing issues and help restore the
area economy, as it did in Brockton when it was connected to Boston via commuter
rail, Dukakis said.


“Brockton is a great example of a depressed city that is making a comeback
because of a commuter rail connecting the city to Boston,” Dukakis said. “A
rail is a big plus for businesses because it allows access to the capital city.
Retail sales will go up and other businesses will benefit and cities will be
able to restore their downtowns.


“People will move to this area where there is more affordable housing. The
average person can’t afford a house in Boston.


“The rail will take 60,000 cars off the road and it’s better for the environment.
Boston will benefit from this just as much as anyone else,” Dukakis said.


The proposed $600 million Fall River/New Bedford project, which Massachusetts
has already invested $40 million for construction, bridge repair and design,
was approved by the Office of Environmental Affairs, Lambert said.


The planned rail extending to New Bedford expands service from South Station
and the Back Bay station in Boston to New Bedford and Fall River.


The commuter rail would provide eight daily round trips from Fall River and
eight from New Bedford, serving more than 4,000 commuters.



No posts to display