MassDOT Promises To Finish Adams Roundabout Design

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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MassDOT officials vowed at Thursday's MPO meeting to find the money to complete design on a proposed roundabout in Adams.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State transportation officials don't know where the money is coming from but they promised the town of Adams at least $105,000 to finish design work on a roundabout at the Route 8, Friend Street intersection.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization, which serves under the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, previously stripped the project of $650,000 from a 2004 federal earmark.

Getting rid of that construction funding angered Adams officials because the project was already in the 25 percent design stage.

Adams officials had hoped that they could salvage at least a little bit of that funding, which was reallocated to the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority for new buses and a maintenance facility roof, to finish the design.

On Thursday, the MPO voted in favor of allocating that money to BRTA after Clinton Bench, state Department of Transportation deputy director of planning, committed to providing at least $105,000 to finish the design.

"I haven't identified the funding source but we're committed to it," Bench said. "If nothing else, MassDOT will make non-federal funds available."

If the design comes from state funds, that $105,000 will not count as the town's contribution toward freeing up funds for the Greylock Glen project. The state has about $3 million set aside for the Glen project and the town needs to match it with either local or federal funds. The $650,000 was to be part of that contribution.


But Adams Town Administrator Jonathan Butler says he will take state funds over having the project shelved.

"I'm glad to have the engineering funds in place," Butler said after Thursday's MPO meeting. "With the money for 100 percent design, at least we can continue making progress."

MassDOT has also identified a possible funding source for construction in the future and will continue to look at state sources.

"I am confident that they will continue to work with us," Butler said.

Prior to Thursday's meeting, there was some question of whether BRTA could get the roof project under way by the end of the year, when the state would lose the federal earmark altogether if it wasn't used. On Thursday, BRTA Assistant Administrator Robert Malnati provided copies of the request for proposal showing the organization is on track to spend the money.

"We have the public notices ready to go," Malnati said.

Tags: BRPC,   BRTA,   earmarks,   Greylock Glen,   MassDOT,   road project,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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