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Massachusetts rededicates South Station for former Gov. Dukakis
It is appropriate that South Station will be named for former Governor Dukakis who presided over the colossally expensive Big Dig tunnels planning that failed to include a rail link between South Station and North Station permitting a fully integrated rail system in metropolitan Boston and New England. Let’s remember who did not get it done!
It was not Dukakis who oversaw construction of the big dig, only planning. The building occurred during Republican administrations. And if Dukakis had his way, we’d have a rail link between North and South Station and no expansion of South Station would be needed.
The Duke wanted nothing to do with the renaming. And, the Big Dig was constructed to allow a future North Station/South Station rail link beneath the highway. Don’t think I’ll ever see that in my lifetime, tho.
Here we go again glorifying politicians making them seem like immortals, when all of us can see right through this form of self aggrandizement.
Local railfans back in the 1970s-80s thought that “He must be a railfan!” but he would never admit to it. He is not a rail hobbyist. And he was somewhat embarrassed at the move to put his name on South Station. As for the Big Dig tunnel, I don’t believe that any accomodation was made in its design to allow for a future North-South rail link tunnel under or near it.
I saw this plaque shortly after it was put up. Let’s hope that it is vandalized shortly. I can’t believe this idiot is being honored in this manner. South Station will only be South Station to me no matter what the politicians want to name it. Same with Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta and National Airport in DC. Politicians honoring other politicians for the photo op. Disgusting.
I agree with the folks who disagree with re-dedicating the station. To this New Haven/New York Central fan, it will always be South Station!
There are many, many actually worthy people in the history of Massachusetts they might have named the transportation center after rather than Dukakis, who deserves no such recognition. Of course, the better course would be to just leave it alone. It’s South Station. Period.
Sadly, the disgraceful trend of naming our great urban historical landmarks after politicians.continues. Pennsylvania Station 30th Street in Philadelphia recently suffered an egregious degradation when the Congress and Senate approved renaming it after a politician who was forced to resign in disgrace. This being done with better than 80% of the local community expressing opposition. Agrandizement of crooks by their own, in this case professional courtesy, casting an ominous pall over a once magnificent railway station…