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State Sen. Adam Hinds is pushing a budget amendment that would study passenger rail service to New York City.

State Senate Accepts Amendment To Study Passenger Rail to New York

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Senate adopted a budget amendment Thursday to develop a blueprint for more consistent passenger rail service to New York City. 
 
State Sen. Adam Hinds filed the amendment which would task the state Department of Transportation to create a working group to study what it will take to establish the service. 
 
"When we are trying to improvement out economy and address population loss, getting our infrastructure right is a key part of that," the Pittsfield Democrat said on Thursday. "This was identified as an important first step."
 
Some four years ago, former Gov. Deval Patrick had pushed a plan to purchase and upgrade the Housatonic Rail line and the state followed through with purchasing and starting to perform upgrades. That line was eyed to go south to Connecticut and into New York City. 
 
"Connecticut has indicated a lack of interest in upgrading their tracks," Hinds said of the current state of that plan.
 
Hinds' amendment will now ask to consider other options, particularly looking at heading west and connecting with the current Amtrak lines south of Albany, N.Y.
 
"This one in particular is a direct Berkshires to New York," Hinds said. "This is essentially laying out a strategy of how we get there."
 
Passenger rail is eyed to help the Berkshires in two ways: in increased tourism and the ability for more people to own homes here. Hinds said this opens a greater possibility of someone living in the Berkshires and commuting to work in New York City. As for tourism, Hinds said many who live in New York don't own cars and do not take trips to the Berkshires so this would make it easier to attract more visitors.
 
Someone can currently take a train to Albany and then go south, but not often. Hinds hopes to develop a more consistent schedule.
 
A second component of the bill is to have consideration given to implementing seasonal passenger rail services. In 2013, a program was started to run extra trains from Boston to Cape Cod during the tourism season. Hinds is looking to replicate that successful program in the Berkshires. 
 
The amendment requires the study to be done between this October and completed by next March. The working group must also included the mayor of Pittsfield, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and existing rail stakeholders. 
 
"There is no money attached to it. It is tasking the Department of Transportation top the work," Hinds said.
 
Much work has already been done through the previous push, including a BRPC study identifying stations in the Berkshires. 
 
While the state Senate has adopted the amendment during its budget deliberations, there are still a number of steps to take. After the senate passes a budget, it will then go to conference committee. There both the Senate budget and the House of Representatives budget will be merged and detailed ironed out. After passage with both bodies, it goes to Gov. Charlie Baker.
 
Hinds said he is confident the amendment will stick through the conference committee, but he isn't so sure it won't get vetoed by Baker. 

Tags: Hinds,   passenger rail,   trains,   transportation,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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