MassDOT Aeronautics Division Administrator Jeffrey DeCarlo refused to change format despite many in the crowd calling for public conversation.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County's feeling that the state doesn't listen to them when it comes to transportation needs was further exasperated Thursday night.

 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation held what was billed as a "community conversation" in City Hall and attracted more than two dozen residents and town officials.

 

But, instead of holding a "capital conversation," MassDOT officials shuttled people to take online surveys and to have private conversations with officials.

 

This new process led to many people decrying that it lacked transparency and was a farce.

 

Those who attended expected an open conversation on the future capital investments for transportation but weren't granted opportunities to speak publicly. 

 

Despite protests, Jeffrey DeCarlo, MassDOT's aeronautics division administrator, refused to change formats back to the open conversations held in years past. The goal of the meeting is to gain input from the communities before crafting the 2017-2021 capital improvement plan. DeCarlo said once the plan is crafted, MassDOT will return with the results.

 

"We want your help as we build a capital investment program that is transparent, user friendly and data-driven," DeCarlo said. "In early 2016, we will be back to present the outcome of this process with the 2017-2021 capital investment program."

 

MassDOT did provide state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, William "Smitty" Pignatelli, and Gailanne Cariddi a chance to speak publicly. Farley-Bouvier led off in saying the area is tired of money being siphoned from the Berkshires to Boston.

 

"We are kind of sick hearing about transportation in the Boston metropolitan area ... We keep funneling all of the transportation money to the T and we are tired of it," Farley-Bouvier said. 

 

She said a penny on the sales tax in Berkshire County alone generates $30 million, all of which goes directly to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority. Meanwhile, only a small fraction of Berkshire County dollars come back for transportation needs.

 

"That doesn't even account the general appropriations that the Legislature gives you or the money siphoned off from other projects." she said. "For every dollar we send to the T, we get .07 cents back and that is a bad deal."

 

She added, "Berkshire County doesn't want to be the place where all the money comes in for these other things ... We want investment so we can take care of our own." 

 

Pignatelli echoed the sentiment. He called for reform of how the state allocates Chapter 90 highway funds. For his 20 towns, the state sent $6.4 million back in Chapter 90 funding.

 

"It is $6,000 per mile. $6,000 will not pave a couple hundred feet. It is not a realistic number," Pignatelli said. 

 

The criteria for how money is allocated is based on road length, population, and employment. The Berkshires falls short on two out of the three. When it comes to bridge repairs, Pignatelli says each bridge costs around $1 million. 

 

"I'm not sure how a town of 800 people with 21 bridges can afford $21 million," Pignatelli said. 

 

He called for "ready-made plans" towns can pull off the shelf rather than paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for engineering work. He also advocated for investments in rail from the Berkshires to New York City and from the Berkshires east to Boston. And he asked for a discount on the turnpike tolls for those who have to commute to work using it. 

 

State Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Smitty Pignatelli, and Gailanne Cariddi were the only ones granted time to speak.

Cariddi called for similar "off-the-shelf" plans for culverts and stream crossings. 

 

"These communities can't afford hundreds of thousands of dollars on just plans to get the job done," she said.

 

Pignatelli pushed for allowance to have a local option gas tax, which is proposed in Lee, and he wants to separate the MassWorks program into two - one for cities and one for rural communities. But above all of those changes, he agreed with Farley-Bouvier in that the Berkshires should keep the penny on the sales tax generated here for local road projects.

 

"If we were able to keep what we generate, I don't think folks would be here tonight," Pignatelli said. "The economic future of the Berkshires is dependent on transportation."

 

Cariddi also thanked MassDOT for the support in bringing the Berkshire Scenic Railway to North Adams and Adams as well as supporting Berkshire Rides. 

 

"Berkshire Scenic Railway was a huge plus and shot in the arm for Berkshire County," Cariddi said.