BRTA Granted $670K For Buses And Roof

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
05:03PM / Tuesday, October 02, 2012Print Story | Email Story

The BRTA is receiving $670,000 in federal funds for new vans and building maintenance.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority received more than a half-million dollars four new vehicles and to put a new roof over its head.

Gov. Deval Patrick and the state Department of Transportation announced a federal earmark of $13.2 million to 10 of the state's regional transit authorities on Tuesday, with $670,000 of that going to the Berkshires.

The money comes from three years of unused federal transportation funds and will provide the Berkshire authority with four new 14-passenger vans with fare boxes — at a cost of $420,000 — and a $250,000 roof and fencing for its 34-year-old maintenance facility in the Downing Parkway.

"The Obama administration has made a smart decision to put unspent dollars into necessary projects that create jobs," Patrick said in a prepared statement. "These projects reflect our commitment to improve public transportation for residents across the commonwealth."

The funds are part of the federal "We Can't Wait" initiative allowing states to reuse unused federal earmarks from 2003 to 2006 for highway and transit projects. The state Department of Transportation chose the "shovel-ready" projects for funding.

"Regional Transit Authorities provide a critical service to residents of every region of the commonwealth who depend on transit to get to work and school," said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey. "MassDOT is pleased to partner with the RTAs in moving these projects forward."

Eleven projects in the state's 28 RTAs were funded. The projects are fully funded by the federal government and does not require state or local matches.

Tags: Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority, federal grants, transportation,

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Pittsfield Council to See 2-Year Moratorium on Data Centers

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Friday, October 23, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council will consider a two-year data center moratorium from the Community Development Board.

The board endorsed the moratorium on Tuesday; it had previously voted to become the petitioner.

"I still think that it is a necessary, proactive, responsible measure by the city in order to take some time to assess the potential impacts of these improvements on Pittsfield and on the county, and make sure that we understand these systems and create some really truly responsible regulations that take into account all the different aspects of this technology," City Planner Kevin Rayner said.

The petition would amend City Code Chapter 23 and create Article 23-4 Section 4.332, "Data Center, Temporary Moratorium."

Last month, Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order that gives municipalities the power to say "no" to data centers, and earlier this year, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren petitioned to explore implementing a moratorium on the establishment and siting of data centers.

Based on web results, there are as many as 75 data centers or projects in Massachusetts, none in Berkshire County.

Rayner explained that he brought forward the same petition as before; it was sent to the council and then back to the board for a public hearing as part of the zoning amendment process.

It defines a data center as a building or group of buildings where the primary use is to house computer systems, servers, data storage equipment, networking equipment, and associated infrastructure necessary for the processing, storage, and distribution of data and digital applications.

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