MassDOT Safe Routes to School Program Adds 1,000th School Partnership

05:00PM / Saturday, November 26, 2022Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program has reached a milestone by adding the Belchertown School District as its 1,000th School District Partnership to the program.

An event was held on Nov. 10 to highlight this milestone and present the Belchertown School District with a plaque commemorating this new record-breaking partnership.

MassDOT's SRTS program conducts outreach activities and safety sessions, and provides funding for infrastructure improvements that make it safer for students to walk and bike to school across Massachusetts with the goal of reaching every community and school district in the Commonwealth. The program currently serves more than 1,030 schools in over 260 communities. Through these partnerships, the Massachusetts SRTS Program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety.

"The Safe Routes to School Program provides schools and communities with valuable tools and resources that can be used to help students safely bike and walk to and from schools, said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler. "The program continues to grow, and we look forward to the addition of even more schools in the future."

"Partnering with Safe Routes to School gives our students additional resources and makes learning about bike and pedestrian safety fun. Plus, our teachers will benefit from turnkey lesson plans and professional development courses. We had a great turnout for our first walk to school event on October 12th and we look forward to participating in many more," said Belchertown School Superintendent Brian Cameron.

MassDOT's SRTS Program, which is supported with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to actively get to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments. SRTS also provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives.

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Berkshire County Firefighters Graduate from Mass Firefighting Academy

05:42PM / Saturday, March 07, 2026

STOW, Mass. — The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy this week graduated 45 firefighters from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program, including six Berkshire County firefighters.

Graduating from Career Recruit Class S44 were Shamus Gaherty of Monterey; Broc Healey, Carolina Jones and Scott Matteson Jr. from Pittsfield; and Paul Hernandez and Michael Meagher of Stockbridge.

"Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever," said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they've received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely."

Career Recruit Class S44 trained in Springfield. Its 21 members represent the fire departments of Agawam, Holden, Marlborough, Monterey, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, Springfield, Stockbridge, and Turners Falls.

The 24 members of Career Recruit Class BW38 trained in Bridgewater and were expected to graduate last week — but the ceremony was postponed after the Blizzard of 2026 dropped more than 30 inches of snow on the campus. They represent the fire departments of Bourne, Braintree, Cohasset, Duxbury, Fall River, Hanover, Harwich, Kingston, Milton, North Attleboro, Provincetown, Rockland, and Scituate.

Maurice Jarmman Jr. of the Marlborough Fire Department, graduating with S44, and Jacob Warmington of the Duxbury, class BW38, were presented the Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award.

The award is named for a longtime chair of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and reflects the recruit's academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the 10-week program. It is given to one recruit in each graduating career recruit training class.

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