Berkshire County Transportation Enhanced by Over $400 K in State Grants

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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

Tags: BRTA,   MassDOT,   

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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