Letter: Hoosac Tunnel Key to Tourism

To the Editor:

Once declared a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Hoosac Tunnel still serves as an important link between the east and west. Freight trains daily journey thru the 4 3/4 mile Tunnel weaving its way from Boston to Albany and beyond.

With this in mind, I would note that on Nov. 28, 1958, the last regular passenger train ran through the Hoosac Tunnel and, since that time the Tunnel has only seen such service on very special occasions. Today, we once again have the opportunity to benefit from our Tunnel through what I would recommend as a renewal of passenger service to Northern Berkshire from such locations as Boston and, in particular from Springfield. With the Berkshires being and continuing to become a great cultural destination, we should and must explore and implement additional creative and realistic ways of bringing increased tourism and economic development into the region.

This vision is based on the fact that Springfield and the construction of a new casino will provide the tremendous opportunity to run a scenic excursion passenger service with the final destination being Adams, North Adams, Williamstown and surrounding communities. Visualize an old-fashioned train busily boarding people on an adventurous and scenic ride winding through our mountain range, along the Deerfield River and ultimately through the famous and legendary Hoosac Tunnel. There could be a stop in the Tunnel where the sights and sounds of workers who once constructed the Tunnel could be seen and heard. From this Disney-type experience the train would continue on and end it's journey here in Northern Berkshire.

What a exciting and rewarding experience for old and young alike! Yes, tourism is only a part of the total development plan that we need to work toward but, keep in mind that tourism is business and can be big business. Now, thanks to the efforts of local leadership, volunteers and others, our newly establish Adams to North Adams scenic railroad can certainly play an important role in this exciting proposal.

To those who say that a scenic railroad thru the Tunnel is impossible due to "red tape" and other obstacles, I say, "We hold the Western Gateway" and that gateway is opened to this exciting and beneficial opportunity. What say you?

Vincent Melito
North Adams

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.