BRTA Service Changes and Efficiencies

12:09PM / Friday, June 10, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority’s (BRTA) Advisory Board voted to implement the

proposed systemwide service changes that will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

These changes were approved by the BRTA Advisory Board at their April 28, 2022 Board meeting.

The goals of the Approved Service Changes are: maintaining as many successful pilot evening services as possible; maximizing customer use of existing services through improved scheduling and connections between BRTA routes (a priority identified in recent customer surveys); maintaining as many services as possible, within BRTA’s projected funding and staffing constraints during the new fiscal year; revising BRTA service to support future electric vehicle procurements; revising BRTA service to accommodate new potential service types such as express buses, regional buses, and micro-transit options in future service plans; planning a "micro-transit," non-fixed route, public transit option within existing resource constraints; and continuing to develop Main Street, North Adams, as a northern mobility hub for BRTA .

The planned changes for the Fixed Route bus service include:

Revised/Expanded bus schedules Routes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 11, 12, 14,15, 21, 21X, and 34
Adjusted/New route travel pattern Routes: 1, 3, 4, 5a, 5b,15, and 21
Adjusted/New bus stop locations Routes: 1, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 15, and 21
New demand service locations Routes: 2, 5a, 5b, 21X
New transfer opportunities At Pittsfield ITC- Routes: 1, 2, 4, 5a, 5b, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 21X At Main Street, North Adams- Routes: 3 and 34
Discontinued bus routes Route16- Crane Ave/Allendale Plaza Route 22- Great Barrington Night Loop

These changes will be effective July 1, 2022.

For a comprehensive list of all of the changes, please visit https://berkshirerta.com/2022/05/03/approved-service-changes-for-fy-2023/, stop by the ITC, 1 Columbus Avenue for a printed version in both Spanish and English, or email info@berkshirerta.com to receive a copy via email. Those with any questions about these service changes and call the BRTA at (413) 499-2782 #1.

Updated printed schedules will be released to the public after June 29, 2022, for planning purposes. Updated schedules on the BRTA website, www.berkshirerta.com, will be released on June 30, 2022.

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Pittsfield Subcommittee Considers E-Bike Safety

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
03:34PM / Wednesday, October 07, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors want to explore ways to encourage safe e-bike use.

On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee discussed the request by Councilor At Large Kathy Amuso and Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn to increase enforcement of bicycle and e-bike use on Pittsfield streets, install signage in high-traffic areas, and launch an educational program for kids.

Amuso has received reports of kids riding motorized bikes at 15 to 20 mph on the sidewalk while people are trying to back out of their driveways, and she fears someone might get hurt.

She said that if they could start with some basics, such as riding with traffic in bike lanes and requiring operators under 16 to wear helmets, it would address most of the calls.

"Do I think we need to put 10 police on trying to find e-bikes throughout the city? I don't," she said. "But there are enough calls that I'm getting, and other councilors are getting, that we have to say, ‘OK, what can we do?’ And we have a lot of bike lanes in Pittsfield, and the e-bikes and all bikes should be in the bike lanes, not on the sidewalk."

The petition was tabled so that the Department of Public Works can study it and gather further information.

In Massachusetts, an e-bike with a top speed of 20 mph and a motor of 750 watts or less is classified as a traditional bicycle. State law defines two e-bike classes:

"Class 1 electric bicycle" is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to assist when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
"Class 2 electric bicycle" is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.

Riders 16 years or younger must wear a helmet by law.

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