PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Groups looking to create a transportation management authority will soon turn their eye toward getting private-sector involvement.
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Transportation Program Planner Clete Kus said the plans are aimed to improve transportation in the rural area. In briefing the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Kus said the idea is to create a membership-based organization to shuttle people in rural areas, helping them get to jobs.
"It's a membership-based organization where you get the business community along with institutions and possibility municipalities, develop an agreement and focus on providing and delivering transportation options," Kus said.
The idea stemmed from a summit held by state Sen. Adam Hinds at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts last year. Organizations had come together to discuss ways to address rural transportation. Kus said an idea was crafted to create new circular routes with the existing public transit system.
"A lot of time and effort went into looking at the best option for a circulator route as well as what the cost will be," Kus said, But, "it would be a relatively high cost to increase the frequency and it wouldn't really get at the first and last mile initiative."
The concept shifted. MCLA, the senator's office, Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, 1Berkshire and BRPC then worked through the concept of a TMA. It would essentially get businesses to contribute a fee to be part of it and shuttle vans already in existence with other organizations would be deployed to get people from their homes and to one of the main bus routes. And then from the bus route to the job. And back.
"The reality is that there is a big question of how do we improve rural transportation? Is there a hybrid approach to what the BRTA provides but then using other aspects around the county like your senior vans, off-duty school vans and buses, vets vans, and paratransit," Hinds said last week.
Kus said the effort is now switching from the planning stages to getting private-sector companies on board.
"The private sector is going to be asked to come up with money to help defray the cost and depending on how well that is perceived will really determine if this moves forward," Kus said.
Kus added, "there are other options that could defray the cost. Members of the TMA, instead of providing a cash payment, one concept is to have them use vehicles or staff to be drivers."
While getting the private sector to contribute is going to be the main focus soon, Kus said there is also still some work in identifying the readership and the employers. He's thinking something like an automated call center would be the best option for that.
The concept isn't really new as there are plenty throughout the country. But, the majority of those are in urban areas.
"There are a number of TMAs operating in the state and across the United States. There are a lot of models but not so much for rural areas," Kus said.
MPO member Jim Lovejoy said he is supportive of the effort. But, he does question whether such an effort will do the trick. He said the distances and the lack of population pose the biggest challenges to rural transportation because it adds to the cost.
"It seems like there are some basic bedrock problems with this," Lovejoy said.
Kus said there is no doubt it will cost money because there is always the cost of vehicles and people to drive. And the concept is far from a "done deal." Nonetheless, a collaborative of organizations is working on it and a program to help those in rural areas get to work and back easier is being developed.
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Why not work for a partial solution by encouraging employment agencies, employers and prospective employees without transportation to give preference to hire/apply within 2-3 miles of home? This is for low paying jobs.
Even it eliminates 10-15% of te need for transportation it would b e a success.
Also: Provide those with cars cash incentives to car pool with others that work for different employers in nearby areas. Have state employment agencies do the computer matching for car pool members. Incentives must be worthwhile for drivers. Use public transit funds.
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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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.
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