PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded funding to the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority and Great Barrington (BRTA) to enhance transportation access within Berkshire County. 

 

BRTA and the Town of Great Barrington have received a combined total of over $400,000 through the Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP).

 

"Every investment we make in public transportation is an investment to connect more individuals and households to opportunities and to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts," said Governor Maura Healey. "We commend everyone who competed for funding available through this program and made a strong case for the importance of connectivity and transportation education in their respective communities." 

 

The BRTA has been granted $160,312. Specifically, $9,300 will support the continuation of its travel training program, empowering individuals to use public transportation confidently. Additionally, $151,012 will expand paratransit services for seniors in underserved rural towns, building on the BRTA's previous medical transit pilot.

 

Furthermore, the Town of Great Barrington has been awarded $252,000 to provide demand-response transportation services across seven rural towns within the county. This initiative will address critical transportation gaps in these areas, ensuring residents have access to essential services and destinations.

 

These grants are part of a broader $5.8 million investment by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to improve mobility for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals throughout Massachusetts.

 

MassDOT received 79 applications from 59 organizations with a total request of over $14 million. Community Transit Grant Program awards are funded using $4 million from the Education and Transportation Fund through the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget, as well as $1.8 million in Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 funding