Massachusetts renames South Station to honor former Gov. Dukakis

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday rededicated the South Station in Boston as the Gov. Michael Dukakis South Station Transportation Center to honor the former governor's commitment to public transportation.

During his time as governor, Dukakis was known to use the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) and received national attention for his public transit ridership. He supported increased transportation funding to improve and extend subway and commuter-rail service to promote economic growth and increase equitable opportunities across the commonwealth.

A key measure in Gov. Dukakis' transportation initiatives was safety. That 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, MBTA officials said in a press release.

"Gov. Dukakis has been a tireless and effective advocate for public transportation for decades," Patrick said in a prepared statement.  "I am honored to rename South Station … to celebrate his lasting work to improve public transportation and through it the economy and quality of life in the commonwealth."
 
Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th governor of Massachusetts, from 1975 to 1979, and from 1983 to 1991. In 1988, he was the Democratic Party's nominee for president, but lost the election to then-Vice President George H. W. Bush.