May 5, 2016
By Thor Jourgensen/The Daily Item

State Sen. Thomas M. McGee said extending the Blue Line on the North Shore’s commuter rail lines could make Massachusetts a national model for smart transportation.

Speaking at a transportation spending hearing at North Shore Community College on Wednesday, McGee urged state officials to boost a $14.4 billion spending plan over five years to more than $20 billion.

He said making the Blue Line extension a priority “ties into economic opportunity” for Lynn and the North Shore.

“That project is imperative to the region,” he said.

Under discussion for years, the Blue Line extension project would extend the subway above ground by 4.5 miles from the Wonderland stop in Revere to Lynn.

McGee said connecting it to the nearby commuter rail track and operating Blue Line trains on the rail can be done with signaling upgrades and other minor changes. 
The Lynn Business Partnership’s James Moore said the group has long advocated for the Blue Line expansion and plans to continue making the project a priority.