CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town has was awarded nearly $78,000 toward making a section of Middle Road more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly.
The money was part of some $5.5 million in Complete Streets program grants announced recently by Gov. Charlie Baker. The program was launched in fiscal 2016 as a way to promote safe and accessible access to all modes of transportation along the state's byways, such as improving sidewalks and intersections, widening roads for cycling and walking, and upgrading areas to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Clarksburg will receive $77,902 to improve Middle Road by widening it to create a 4-foot shoulder with bicycle marking symbols. According to the state Highway Department, "this work represents this first of a four-phased effort to reconstruct Middle Road to more safely accommodate cyclists and pedestrians from the North Adams town line northward to the River Road (Route 8) intersection."
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said this first section runs from the four-way intersection of Middle and Cross roads south to the pump station on Middle Road.
"Hopefully, [we will] wrap it with other funding sources to do a portion of Middle Road," wrote Town Administrator Carl McKinney in an email. "We would have to bid it out as we do not have the machinery or manpower for such a project."
Clarksburg adopted a policy in 2016 to include Complete Streets concepts in its road project designs and applied to enter the program. The town had to send an employee to complete a training program, approve a policy that scores high against state criteria, and development a street priority plan. Towns are eligible to receive from $50,000 in technical assistance up to $400,000 in construction funding.
The Baker-Polito administration has awarded approximately $23.2 million since creating a funding program to 148 municipalities since 2016.
"We are proud to announce the latest round of Complete Streets awards to support efforts by cities and towns to upgrade their transportation infrastructure," said the governor in a statement. "The Complete Streets program enables our municipal partners to improve their roadways, sidewalks, multi-use paths and intersections, so that our infrastructure works for everyone, whether they are driving, cycling, walking or using public transit."
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced that three of its primary care provider clinics have received awards from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) for being among the top practices in Massachusetts for patient experience in primary care.
The "MHQP Patient Experience Awards" is an annual awards program introduced in 2018 by MHQP, a non-profit measurement and reporting organization that works to improve the quality of patient care experiences in Massachusetts. MHQP conducts the only statewide survey of patient experience in primary care in Massachusetts.
"The teams at Adams Internists, Berkshire Internists and Lenox Family Health have worked extremely hard to provide their patients with the highest standard of compassionate, patient-centered care," said James Lederer, MD, BHS Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer. "Berkshire Health Systems is pleased by this recognition, which validates that our patients are receiving the quality communication, care, and support that they deserve, which is our highest priority."
Awards were given to top overall performers in adult primary care and pediatrics in each of nine performance categories. Adams Internists of BMC, Berkshire Internists of BMC and Lenox Family Health Center of BMC received recognition for the following awards for adult care:
Adams Internists of BMC: Distinction in Assessment of Patient Behavioral Health Issues
Berkshire Internists of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and How Well Providers Know Their Patients
Lenox Family Health Center of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and Office Staff Professional Experience
"It is not easy for a primary care practice to thrive in the current environment," said Barbra Rabson, MHQP's President and CEO. "We are thrilled to congratulate each of them on behalf of their patients for their exceptional commitment to excellence."
"Primary care is the foundation of our health care system," said Julita Mir, MD, MHQP's Board Chair. "The practices from all across the state recognized with this award have distinguished themselves where it matters most – in the experiences of their own patients."
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