For months, people worked from home, didn't travel, and avoided large gatherings in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Now, as Massachusetts begins its phased reopening, currently allowing retail and restaurants to open with some restrictions, is Boston on track to reclaim its place as most congested region in the country?

Transportation advocate Chris Dempsey told Boston Public Radio on Monday city and state officials can take steps to ensure we don't soar to the top of the list again.

A transportation bill passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives weeks before the state shutdown, and now is up to the Senate to pass it onto Governor Charlie Baker's desk in the next six weeks, before the end of the legislative session.

"It raises new revenue to invest in our transportation system broadly, including in transit," said Dempsey, and would create a comission on roadway and congestion pricing.

In the more immediate term, Dempsey lauded the Baker administration for the newly announced grant program with the Department of Transportation that will help businesses in cities and towns across the state transition to safe outdoor dining and enhance pedestrian and bike routes.

But, Dempsey said the MBTA has actually been a "national leader" on keeping its vehicles clean, it just needs to get better at messaging to boost rider confidence — and could use a boost from the man at the top.

"At some point, we're going to need to see Governor Baker riding the MBTA," he said. "He's earned so much credibility through the COVID-19 crisis as a person who is trying to manage it, has good info, is such in contrast to federal and national situation, he's earned that. He needs to spend a little bit of that political capital, ride the system himself, and say, this is safe for me, it's safe for my family, it's safe for your family too."

Baker has said riding the T would a merevirtue signal, not substantive.

Dempsey is Director of Transportation for Massachusetts and former Assistant Secretary of Transportation.