image description — Crosby fourth-graders submission of 'Flurry Fighter' will be placed on a District 1 snowplow.

Crosby Students Have Winning Name for MassDOT Snowplow

04:29PM / Saturday, January 21, 2023Print Story | Email Story

The name will be a decal on the side of the truck this winter season.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Look out for the Flurry Fighter this winter season.

The name submitted by fourth-graders at Crosby Elementary School was selected for one of 12 state highway trucks by the state Department of Transportation. The classroom will get a $100 gift card and a visit from its snowplow truck.

The Name a Snowplow contest received submissions from public elementary and middle schools statewide. A selection panel composed of MassDOT employees chose two school classroom winners located within each of the six Highway Division districts.

The second truck named in District 1 is "Sled Zeppelin," named by sixth-graders at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School in Shelburne Falls.

"We are excited about the results of our first-ever contest to partner with school students across Massachusetts to name several of our snowplows," said Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca. "In addition to recognizing the schools that submitted winning names, this contest also strengthens the connection MassDOT has with communities across the commonwealth."

The winning submissions were evaluated based on two grade-level categories: 1) kindergarten through fourth grade; and 2) fifth grade through eighth grade.

Other winners are Luke Snowalker (Munger Hill School, Westfield), Plower Ranger (Reingold Elementary School, Fitchburg), Sherlock Snowmes (John F. Kennedy School, Somerville), Snowdrop (Wilkins Elementary School, Stoughton), Arctic Beast (JFK Elementary School, Canton), Snow Day No Way (Hadley Elementary School), Blizzard Wizard (Tahanto Middle-High School Boylston), Snow Big Deal (TEC Connections Academy Online School, Malden), Snow Time to Lose (Wamsutta Middle School, Attleboro), and Blizzard of Oz (Wamsutta Middle School, Attleboro).

The purpose of the contest was to celebrate the snow and ice season and to help recognize the hard work and dedication of public works employees and contractors during winter storms.

Tags: contest, Crosby School, MassDOT,

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MassDOT, CSX Agree on Improvements to Support Berkshire Flyer, Passenger Rail

Staff Reports iBerkshires
06:01AM / Thursday, October 08, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Department of Transportation and CSX have reached an agreement for local infrastructure improvements that will be a "major step" to making the Berkshire Flyer a permanent seasonal service.

Gov. Maura Healey's administration said the improvements will also help toward the years-long project of expanding passenger rail in Western Massachusetts.

"People in Western Massachusetts have been clear that they want better rail connections, and we're delivering," Healey said in a statement released on Thursday. "This agreement puts the Berkshire Flyer on a path toward permanent seasonal service and invests in the infrastructure we need to keep expanding West-East passenger rail service between Boston and Albany. Combined with new federal funding for modern trains, we're giving people more choices, supporting local businesses and better connecting Western Massachusetts to opportunities across the Northeast."

Mayor Peter Marchetti said the Berkshire Flyer is an important asset to the city and that he was grateful for the investment to make it permanent.

The Berkshire Flyer was established in 2022, connecting the Berkshires directly to New York City for the first time in a half-century. The Amtrak service was based on the seasonal Cape Cod Flyer with the goal to increase tourism opportunities. The 2026 season expanded service with an additional round-trip, including new opportunities for Berkshire County residents to travel to New York City.

The administration also announced that new federal funding awarded to Amtrak for additional modern trainsets will support Compass Rail services, including the Berkshire Flyer and the future Inland Route between Boston, Springfield and New Haven.

Under the new agreement with CSX, MassDOT will fund construction of a siding and other track improvements in the Pittsfield area to increase rail capacity and reduce conflicts between passenger and freight operations. MassDOT will also explore the feasibility of a new platform at the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center.

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