BRPC to Present Draft Safety Action Plan

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) federal funding program is bringing resources to Berkshire County to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our roads, with the goal of reaching zero.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) has been developing the STEPS Initiative: the Safe Travel and Equity Plan for our Streets and will be releasing the draft Action Plan for public review and comment on Nov. 4, 2024.

Earlier this year, BRPC, along with their consultation partners at BETA Group Inc., began the development process of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan with public meetings, an online survey, municipal stakeholder interviews, and a comprehensive review of regional crash data. The draft report of safety recommendations based on these findings will be available for public review and comment beginning Nov. 4. An executive summary is available now at https://www.berkshiresteps.org/.

An input session presenting the draft plan and inviting comments will be held at the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC), 45 Woodlawn Avenue in Pittsfield, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6:00pm. The comment period runs for 28 days from Nov. 4 through Dec. 2.

The meeting will be in a hybrid format. Zoom pre-registration is required to attend online and may be done at berkshireplanning.org/initiatives/ss4a/. No sign-up is required to attend the meeting in person at the BIC. Language and accessibility services can be provided at the meeting with 7 days advance notice by emailing nrusso@berkshireplanning.org or calling (413) 442-1521 extension 19.

At the meeting, the planning team will present background information, describe the need for this study, and present data gathered over the course of plan development. The team will then review recommendations for future transportation safety projects and programs to address the concerns identified. Berkshire County residents are invited to review the draft report and provide feedback during the comment window from Nov. 4 through Dec. 2.


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BRPC, BDAO to Host Community Forum on Kratom

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Effective Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, Massachusetts has temporarily placed Kratom into Schedule I for one year while additional study and evaluation occur.

Under this temporary order, retailers may not display, sell, or distribute Kratom products, though they may store them out of sight. Local Boards of Health hold discretion on determining municipal enforcement.

To address these changes and discuss community impacts, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, Berkshire Public Health Alliance, and Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative are hosting a community forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The event will take place in person at the Berkshire Innovation Center (45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA) and virtually via Zoom.

The event begins with welcoming remarks from District Attorney Shugrue, followed by a presentation from Dr. Jennifer Michaels, Medical Director at The Brien Center, on Kratom fundamentals and local treatment and recovery resources. Attendees will also hear state and regional perspectives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, followed by a collaborative cross-sector discussion on prevention and recovery strategies.

To RSVP or to receive Zoom meeting information, please email Stacy Parsons at Stacy.Parsons@mass.gov.

For additional state background, regulatory documentation, and health guidance, visit mass.gov/info-details/kratom

 

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