The Big Dig The Big Dig | 3. All Politics is Local
Oct 4, 2023
The political showdown between Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan takes center stage as funding for a vital infrastructure project hangs in the balance. O'Neill's 'All politics is local' mantra clashes with Reagan's cuts, highlighting the intensity of 1980s political rivalry. Listeners learn about cost-benefit analyses that challenge funding justifications, the clever lobbying tactics involving Roger Moore, and the nail-biting moments of Senate negotiations. Ultimately, the Big Dig emerges as a symbol of political maneuvering in an era of changing transportation policies.
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Federal Skepticism Meets Urban Projects
- The Reagan administration's Federal Highway chief, Ray Barnhart, initially resisted projects like the Central Artery as examples of urban beautification.
- His stance reflected a broader ideological shift toward skepticism of federal urban-style spending under Reagan.
A Fishing Trip Opened Doors
- Roger Moore, a Republican Boston lawyer, befriended Ray Barnhart and secured a memo listing three administration concerns about the project.
- That memo let Salvucci's team address technical issues and negotiate the cost-effectiveness question directly with Federal Highway staff.
Numbers That Broke The Deadlock
- A joint cost-benefit review found both the Central Artery and Harbor Tunnel had identical low traffic-only benefit ratios (0.3).
- That parity allowed Federal Highway to permit the combined project to proceed despite objections about cost-effectiveness.