PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has received $238,826 for Shared Streets and Spaces projects from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to support 20 placemaking projects.
The city announced Tuesday that the state Department of Transportation approved and funded the its grant application for the Shared Streets and Spaces Program in the amount of $238,826.
The grant program was instituted in part to aid communities in developing areas for pedestrian access and outdoor economic activities, such as outdoor dining, during the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, applications were weighed on the potential and intent for making these improvements permanent.
This program will support 20 placemaking projects in the downtown corridor designed to enhance mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists, integrate additional open and public spaces for community life, and improve navigation.
The grant program provides grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $300,000 for cities and towns to quickly implement or expand improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce in their communities.
Projects are split into two categories:
Enhanced Mobility Components: Projects that will enhance mobility by taking paved space typically used for car travel and altering it for more diverse use.
These projects include traffic calming measures, bicycle and pedestrian-friendly paths and improvements, parking changes, and traffic changes.
Placemaking Components: Projects that draw foot traffic by creating focal points throughout the downtown to create a more inviting outdoor experience.
The projects include the installation of various parklets and plazas throughout the downtown as well as interactive play streets. Projects also include gateway intersections and corridors that invite pedestrians to explore and continue their walk through the downtown.
Projects vary in cost from $4,000 to just over $20,000
A full outlay on the projects can be found here but some highlights are protected bike lanes from Maplewood Avenue to Wahconah Street, a play street installation on Melville Street, and the North Street gateway enhanced corridor that will include shade structures, bike racks, public art, and seating.
Work is expected to begin now and continue through early October, adhering to the grant's required timeline.
One of the projects would push parking away from the curb on the south side of Bank Row, opening it up for public and dining space.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Tickets On Sale for Berkshire Flyer
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), announced tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer.
The Berkshire Flyer is a seasonal summer passenger rail service that operates between New York City from Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield. The service, which began as a successful pilot in 2022, is scheduled to resume on Friday, June 21 through Monday, Sept. 2 for Labor Day weekend. Trains depart New York City Friday nights and return at the end of the weekend, leaving Pittsfield Sunday afternoon.
In addition, for the first time this year, the Berkshire Flyer service now includes a train from New York City to Pittsfield on Sunday mornings.
"We're thrilled to announce this season's Berkshire Flyer service," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting Western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing, and easy. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX."
The Berkshire Flyer departs from Moynihan Train Hall at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield at 7:27 p.m. The train will make all intermediate station stops as the scheduled Amtrak Empire Service train does in New York State on Fridays, which include Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Albany-Rensselaer Station.
The Sunday return trip, making all the same station stops, will depart Pittsfield at 3:35 p.m. and arrive in New York at 7:55 p.m. The new Sunday Berkshire Flyer train from New York City to Pittsfield will depart Moynihan Train Hall at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 p.m.
The Berkshire Flyer is building upon two successful seasons where some of the Pittsfield-bound trains were sold out well in advance. Based on that experience, passengers planning a trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early by visiting Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
click for more
Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
click for more
The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
click for more
A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes. click for more
