Rail link chugs along

Along with a $15 minimum wage, single-payer health care and higher taxes on the wealthy the state Democratic Party platform now officially expresses support for linking Boston’s North and South stations by underground rail. As a statement of progressive party “values” it’s a rather weird one.

Yes, the project would be a job creator, so organized labor would be foursquare behind it. And the party platform now also states support for the South Coast rail project, highspeed rail between Boston and Springfield and the Green Line expansion, so perhaps the “value” here is that there isn’t a costly transit expansion project the state party won’t get behind.

Indeed, the Boston Business Journal last week reported on “growing support” for the North-South rail link, including from a majority of the state’s congressional delegation.

But all of this is happening before the contract for a feasibility study had even been awarded by the Baker administration. Hey, who needs a costbenefit analysis anyway?

Asked about the project on WGBH radio recently, Senate President Stan Rosenberg mused about building a monorail to connect the two rail hubs. That would seem to destroy the main argument in favor of the project, which is to provide a seamless trip for rail commuters from the north and south sides of the city; no need to switch trains if you’re going from your home in Salem to a job in Quincy.

We think Rosenberg was kidding. When it comes to transit fantasies on Beacon Hill, though, we’re not sure what to believe anymore.