BRTA Temporary Service Adjustments

10:43AM / Monday, May 13, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) is announcing temporary service reductions

on select bus routes, and an increased employee hiring incentive, aimed at improving the reliability of the public transit system.

Due to many factors facing most employers in today's labor market, including a continued lack of available bus operators, BRTA is temporarily reducing service on selected bus routes to match current staffing levels. These service changes will be effective starting Monday, May 20, 2024.

"Our Operations and Maintenance staff are the backbone of our agency. They work tirelessly to provide the transit services that our customers deserve. Despite continued hiring and training efforts, the unfortunate reality is that we just don't have enough Operators. Therefore, we need to adjust our services to a level where we can provide the greatest reliability possible," said Robert Malnati, BRTA Administrator. "BRTA continues to coordinate employment

services with our community partners including Berkshire Community College and MassHire, on innovative ways to increase our staffing."

An increased hiring incentive of $1,000 is hopeful to generate additional interest in working for the BRTA.

"We hope to restore these reduced bus services as soon as we are able to increase our staffing. In the meantime, we want to maintain the service reliability that our customers need and deserve," he added.

The temporary service changes impact a few fixed route bus schedules but will not affect the ADA and Non-ADA paratransit services. The Route 921 Express will also increase trips during this timeframe to supplement the scheduled service.

Service changes include:

Weekdays:

Route 14: Pittsfield Southeast Loop
- Suspended from 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM
- Will ONLY operate from 6:30 PM - 9:50 PM
Route 21: Lee-Stockbridge-Great Barrington
- Will run every 120 minutes on Weekdays
- Suspend Lee Premium Outlets trips departing on odd hours 5:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
- Suspend Great Barrington Fairgrounds Plaza trips departing on even hours 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.
Route 921: Pittsfield- Great Barrington Express
- Will operate consistently every 120 minutes on Weekdays.
- Increased Pittsfield ITC departures 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
- Increased Great Barrington Fairgrounds Plaza departures 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.
- Will run as a local route with flag service available.
- Will pick up/drop off at Berkshire South Community Center as requested.

Saturdays:

Route 21: Lee-Stockbridge-Great Barrington
- Will operate every run every 120 minutes on Saturdays.
- Suspended Lee Premium Outlets trips departing on odd hours 9:30 AM 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
- Suspended Great Barrington Fairgrounds Plaza trips departing on even hours 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.
Route 921: Pittsfield- Great Barrington Express
- Suspend trip departing Pittsfield ITC at 7:30 AM.
- Will run as a local route with flag service available.
- Will pick up/drop off at Berkshire South Community Center as requested.

Revised bus schedules will be posted online at www.berkshirerta.com on Friday May 17, 2024.

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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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