BRTA Extending Free Rides to Non-ADA Communities

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is extending fare-free rides to non-ADA communities.

BRTA Advisory Board on Thursday voted to let non-ADA communities participate in fare-free rides through June.

"The advantage of fare-free is to introduce more citizens to the services," said member Douglas McNally.

The request was brought up earlier this month to the finance committee, which recommended the extension.

Last year, BRTA was awarded $699,733 from the state for fare-free service from Jan 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2025. The funding was provided in the fiscal year 2025 budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey in July and builds off two years of successful pilot programs.

The fare-free initiative was for fixed routes and ADA paratransit services.

Transit to Pittsfield for non-ADA communities would cost as much as $25 for a trip, which could be hard for some riders.

"There could be a pent-up demand that we realize financially it could cause you to not go to your doctor's appointment because you couldn't afford to take a $25 trip one way to go to the doctor's and then go home," Administrator Robert Malnati said.

The BRTA had about $7,000 in the budget to put toward this initiative.

"This way here it opens the door to know what we're about, how can we help them, in utilizing funds that are still there and just expanding the other service so it made sense," said Malnati.

Residents in 17 communities will now have the opportunity. The communities being Alford, Becket, Clarksburg, Egremont, Florida, Hancock, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Peru, Richmond, Savoy, Sheffield, West Stockbridge, Washington and Windsor.

Malnati believes this was a good step to get people to know what the BRTA does.

"I think it's a step in the right direction… We are the whole Berkshire region so why are we only limiting it to 13 communities? Why can't we open it to everybody, so we will," he said.

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:08AM / Saturday, December 20, 2025

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.