Transportation experts Jim Aloisi and Chris Dempsey joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, where they attested to Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s record on transportation issues, in light of her newly-announced campaign for city governor. 

"I think she’s already impacted the conversation,” Dempsey said. "She has been a leader on transportation since she joined the City Council, not just within the city of Boston but really across the region and across the state.”

Aloisi agreed, saying he believes Wu “has already triggered conversations that are good ones.”

"I think that the dynamic between her and [current mayor Marty Walsh] in terms of thinking about dedicated bus lanes, protected cycling lanes, is good one,” he said, adding that any future leadership in Boston will need to implement aggressive measures to modernize the city's transportation infrastructure.

The two also weighed in on MBTA proposals to mitigate a looming budget crisis with fare hikes and service cuts, as well as Mayor Walsh’s announcement that Boston will be increasing bus lanes and making a series of bike lanes permanent. 

Jim Aloisi is former Mass. Transportation Secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Chris Dempsey is the Director of Transportation for Massachusetts and former Mass. Assistant Secretary of Transportation.