Berkshire Communities Receive Highway Funds

11:05AM / Tuesday, September 12, 2023Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that MassDOT has received an additional $80 million in funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as part of the annual funding redistribution process.

These redistribution funds represent federal transportation funds that were unable to be used for the programs to which they were originally allocated. As part of this redistribution, MassDOT will add or increase funding for 12 infrastructure projects across Massachusetts.

"Our Administration is committed to pursuing transportation projects that increase safety, equity, and reliability in Massachusetts," said Transportation Acting Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Our MassDOT teams did a tremendous job in ensuring we had shovel-ready projects to submit for funding consideration to FHWA and we're pleased these projects will improve infrastructure and communities in our Commonwealth."

In Berkshire County:

Pittsfield - Intersection & signal improvements at First Street & North Street

Lanesborough - Resurfacing and related work on Route 7

Becket, Blanford, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge - Bridge preservation

Every year in July, FHWA calculates how much Fiscal Year spending is likely to go unspent and solicits requests from the states for projects that can use the additional funding. Because FHWA obligation authority is a "use it or lose it" proposition, any projects submitted for additional funding must be able to be shovel-ready in the current fiscal year. These funds are available now and must be obligated no later than September 26, 2023. Massachusetts' redistribution funding average for the previous four years had been $64.9 million.

"As part of our good governance, the Highway Division was ready to submit shovel-ready projects to our federal partners as soon as the opportunity for additional funding was there," said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "We will continue to b

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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