BRTA Studying Microtransit for County

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Monday, May 05, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is looking over a new project to bring microtransit to the county.

The study was done by the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and FoursquareITP (Integrated Transportation Planning) and presented recently to the BRTA board by project manager Jessica Klion .

She stated that the county is facing challenges to provide comprehensive and effective transit service for all of its residents and visitors as public transportation mainly focused on more developed areas.

Microtransit would include more coverage than a fixed-route service and would have a similar interface as the Uber and Lyft apps. This could help cover more rural areas, also helping customers book a ride.

In the study FourSquare, looked at the potential and need within the county for transit. It recommended that microtransit is most suitable for areas with medium to low transit potential but medium to high transit need. These places include: outside of downtown Pittsfield, Adams, Dalton, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, North Adams, Stockbridge and Williamstown.

The use of microtransit suggests it will fill many transit gaps. Some of the gaps mentioned were residents in North Adams and Adams who live farther from the main corridors and face the challenge of limited access to reliable public transportation. Pittsfield residents who live in the more suburban areas lack convenient access to bus stops and Lenox only has three major bus stops but has a high number of transit dependent residents.

The study is currently in the stage of developing operational scenarios over the next few months with public outreach planned in July.

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Pittsfield's Christian Center Seeks Community Input on Services, Name

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:57PM / Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Worker Dionisio Kelly, left, board member Kenny Warren, Executive Director Jessica Jones, and Food and Services Director Karen Ryan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's a new year, and The Christian Center is looking at how it can serve the area in 2026 and beyond.

This includes a possible new name fueled by community forums in late January and early February.

"We're hoping people will come in and talk about the name, talk about what programs, what services they would like to see from us. What would be most meaningful," Executive Director Jessica Jones said.

"Because the population in this area has changed quite a bit, and we no longer serve just the West Side. We serve people from other parts of Berkshire County. So the hope is just to make it more inclusive."

The Christian Center was a stop on Berkshire Community College and NAACP Berkshires' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The nonprofit will hold three input sessions at 193 Robbins Ave. to inform future programs and branding, and ensure that West Side voices are heard.

The sessions will be held on:

Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The center dates back to the early 1890s, when it was the Epworth Mission started by the Methodist Church to serve newly arrived immigrants and help them assimilate. The Christian Center was incorporated in 1974.

Over the decades, it has drifted away from a faith-based organization to a space for anyone who needs a meal, a warm jacket, a place to bring their child, or a meeting place. A space for everyone.

This is what center officials wanted reflected in the name.

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