(The following story by Bridget Botelho appeared on the Sentinel & Enterprise website on December 2.)
GARDNER, Mass. — Former Gov. Michael Dukakis made his way Monday night from Boston to Mount Wachusett Community College via public transit and commuter rail — a ride he said took far too long.
Dukakis, who now serves on Amtrak’s board of directors, came to Gardner to deliver the keynote speech for a forum the college scheduled as part as its Decade of Civic Engagement initiative.
U.S. Rep. John Olver of the first congressional district, who plays a role in transportation policy and economic development funding, also participated in the forum, which was held to educate citizens on how to get state officials to approve a high speed, quality railway system from cities in North Central Massachusetts to Boston.
Commuters in the area now face a one-hour-and-40-minute commute from Fitchburg to Boston’s North Station.
“The single most important thing we did to revive and rebuild Boston was to use interstate highway funds to improve the transportation system and the commuter rails … We need to insist on a first-class rail system here,” Dukakis said. “We are supposed to be the most powerful nation in the world, but we still have trains that are putzing along at 79 mph.”
Since leaving his seat as governor in 1991, Dukakis, 70, has championed an express train from Boston to North Central Massachusetts as the key method of improving economic conditions and opportunities for area residents.
Dukakis strongly criticized the current administration for bypassing transportation problems outside of metropolitan Boston and proposing billion-dollar projects within.
“Metro Boston already has the best rail system in the world, yet the Romney administration is focusing on improving it while you guys are getting screwed,” Dukakis said, urging the audience at MWCC to take action. “We must work together. Reach out to your legislators and build a coalition to redirect state investments into a train that will take 60,000 cars off the road everyday.”
Congressman Olver supports an express train to the area not only so residents can get to Boston quickly, but so people working in Boston can get to North Central Massachusetts.
“The commute from Boston to here is very important for people who work there because there is more affordable housing here,” Olver said. “The reverse commute needs to be made part of the equation.”
The forum concluded within an hour so Dukakis could catch his train back to Boston. Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority officials were at the forum to answer questions, along with a number of state representatives.