Gov. Healey rejects federal takeover of Boston train station

The Trump administration's threat to take over Boston's South Station is "wrong and outrageous" and has nothing to do with public safety, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said in response to a recent comment from the U.S. deputy transportation secretary.

Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven Bradbury last week suggested that a federal takeover might be necessary to address cleanliness, crime, safety and security problems at South Station, which is is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Bradbury's comments came up during his remarks about Amtrak's new generation of higher speed Acela trains. Launched last week, the trains operate between Boston and Washington, D.C., with a stop in Boston. Bradbury invoked the federal takeovers of Union Station in Washington, D.C., and a massive reconstruction of New York Penn Station, NBCBoston.com reported. 

"Similarly here, in South Boston, we need to address the cleanliness, the crime, the safety and security of the station, for the rail workers, for the passengers, because the people of Boston deserve that," Bradbury said, according to the news station.

In a prepared statement, Healey rejected the possibility of a federal takeover of the Boston train station.

“What the Trump administration is doing in D.C. and now threatening to do at South Station is outrageous, wrong and has nothing to do with transportation or public safety," Healey said. "It’s more political theater, more political power grabs from Donald Trump. We don’t need or want his interference here."

A five-year redevelopment of South Station, expanding the rail concourse while adding a massive skyscraper over the station, is nearing completion, the TV station reported.