BRTA Launches Route 7 Bus Route

Gary Shepard, left, Adam Falk and Benjamin Downing discuss the new routes during an announcement at the Harper Center on Friday.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is launching a pilot bus run down Route 7, connecting North County to Pittsfield in a much quicker fashion.

The route is an extension of a partnership with Williams College, which previously identified a need to connect students with jobs, internships and the Berkshire community. The route runs from Stop & Shop in North Adams to Berkshire Medical Center, with stops along the way.

Riders can request additional stops and pickups as well with a "call/tell" system, allowing the drivers to deviate routes according to needs. Two new mini buses — both equipped with a trial Wi-Fi connection — will run the route about a half dozen times a day. The earliest route run at 6:20 a.m.

The school is taking the money they would have spent running their own system to help BRTA expand — freeing up the school's resources of management and allowing the company to achieve goals they previously eyed quicker. The BRTA is also using some of a federal grant for the new route.

According to Williams College professor Paula Consolini, who headed the effort, the school identified a need for connecting the students with the community.

"This originated from a study group on community engagement," Consolini said. "We knew it. But we got confirmation that transportation was a problem with getting students into the community."

The college initially ran a Route 2 run with its own shuttle bus but the demand was so great the college reached out to the BRTA. That initial partnership proved to be successful and the college and BRTA launched another pilot to extend hours, and now have added the Route 7 corridor.

"Coming to Williams is about coming to Williamstown and the Berkshires," said Williams President Adam Falk.

"Route 7 is rich with opportunity," said BRTA Administrator Gary Shepard. "We are filling an opportunity that exists. It's always been part of our long-range plans."

Government, business and educational officials were all on the bus Friday morning.

On Friday, representatives from BRTA, Williams, Berkshire Community College, state Sen. Benjamin Downing and state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi joined in a bus tour around a portion of the new route. The bus made stops at Stop & Shop, Wild Oats, the Clark Art Institute, Mount Greylock Regional High School and the Williams campus and at each, a representative from the business or institute spoke highly of the opportunity to increase traffic.

"This just gives us flexibility that we didn't have," said Mount Greylock Principal Mary MacDonald, adding that the school is planning on using the service to transport students on small field trips or with tutors without having to increase their own spending on transportation.

The high school activity was something Shepard said had not been anticipated. The focus was to help connect elderly with health-care institutions on top of working with Williams students. Mount Greylock's participation was a welcomed addition.

Cariddi, who sits on the state Joint Committee on Transportation, said public transit is important in building strong communities. Downing said public transit is a "social safety net" in connecting residents with health-care services as well as an economic driver by getting workers to their jobs.

"It's all about the riders and building the ridership," Cariddi said. "It is most gratifying that our own BRTA is making use of the resources they have."

Falk said it is important that the college is in a "strong community," so for Williams, it is not just simply connecting students with jobs.

"All of us benefit when public transportation gets better," he said.

Shepard said the program will be reassessed in the spring and administrators will continually adjust the operations to fit needs.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.