Safe, affordable, and reliable transportation is the backbone to a strong economy, and key to the quality of our lives. The MBTA, Commuter Rail, bus lines, and the many roads throughout the Norfolk and Plymouth Senate District are all critical transportation lifelines that carry people to and from work, school, shopping, and medical appointments. Because our residents rely so heavily on this transportation network, it is critical that we make investing in it a priority.
Locally, I worked to help secure funding for investments of nearly $911 million in the Red Line. The work has included winter resiliency upgrades, work on the garages at the Braintree and Quincy Adams stations, the demolition of the unsafe Quincy Center station garage (which clears the way for public and private investment at the station), the reconstruction of the Wollaston Station, a new garage at the North Quincy Station, an entire new fleet of Red Line cars, and a new, advanced signal system. Over the next few years, the Red Line will be transformed.
In Abington, Route 18 is being widened. In Braintree, Route 37 has seen significant upgrades. Union Street in Holbrook will soon be upgraded, and “Complete Streets” planning in Rockland is moving forward. And in Quincy, a brand new bridge now spans the Fore River.
In government, as with most things in life, the challenge is finding the right balance. As we move forward with transportation policy discussions across the Commonwealth, we must focus on reform, oversight, and fiscal prudence, while continuing to make investments in our transportation infrastructure. These steps will ensure that we have a safe and reliable transportation system, making our local economies stronger and our communities more appealing places to live.
State Senator John F. Keenan 