10 Most Dangerous Pittsfield Intersections: 2017 Edition

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Department of Transportation prioritizes safety when determining which road projects it undertakes.
 
And that starts by knowing where the most dangerous intersections are located. MassDOT and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission track accidents and create a list of trouble spots. 
 
The ratings use a weighted system. If there is a fatality at an intersection, it is given a score of 10. If the accident causes a non-fatal injury, the intersection receives five points. An accident that only causes property damage receives one point. Over a three-year period, those scores then start to show specific areas that tend to see more and more serious accidents.
 
Simply put, the higher the score, the higher the number and severity of accidents at that location.
 
Back in 2013, iBerkshires put together a list of the 10 worst intersections in Pittsfield. Four years later, we were wondering if things had changed.
 
There are projects in the works to ease trouble at many of these. But from 2013 through 2015, the latest data released, here are the top-scoring intersections in the city of Pittsfield.
 
10) Dalton and Merrill: score 44
9) Wahconah and Seymour: score 44
8) South and West Housatonic streets: score 45
7) North and Maplewood: score 45

6) First and Tyler: score 47

 

5) Fenn and East: score 48
 
4) Dalton and Plastics: score 53

3) West and Center: score 54

2) Linden and Seymour: score 58

1) First and Fenn: score 65

 

 


Tags: fatal,   intersection,   motor vehicle accident,   top 10,   

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Dalton Town Hall Lift Solutions in Development

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — Solutions are being sought for the lift in Town Hall that has been out of service since December because of safety concerns. 
 
Building Grounds Superintendent Jeff Burch told the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee meeting on Tuesday night that Hill Engineering has been contracted to come up with a potential option.
 
The lift is in the police station and the only other lift for the town hall is in the library, which is not accessible after library hours. 
 
Previous attempts by Garaventa Lift to repair it have been unsuccessful. 
 
Replacing it in the same location is not an option because the new weight limit requirement went from 400 pounds to 650 pounds. Determining whether the current railings can hold 650 pounds is outside the scope of Garaventa's services to the town. 
 
The first option Hill has proposed is to install a vertical lift in a storage closet to the left of the police entrance, which would go up into the town account's office. 
 
A member of the committee expressed concern that the current office location may not be suitable as it could hinder access to the police station during construction. 
 
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