MassDOT Announces Municipal Speed Feedback Signage Program

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing the launch of the Municipal Speed Feedback Signage Program, a new $1 million initiative designed to help communities manage vehicle speeds and enhance roadway safety, particularly in speed transition zones where posted limits change. 

The program, administered cooperatively by MassDOT's Office of Transportation Planning and Highway Division, will provide municipalities with solar-powered, data-capable, and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) compliant speed feedback signs (either post-mounted or portable trailer-mounted) at no capital cost to local governments.  An application form is available online at the following link, with signs distributed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis. 

Participating municipalities will be responsible for installation and maintenance of the signs and will share the speed data collected from the signs to help support statewide speed management research and decision-making. The initiative is supported with federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and aligns with MassDOT's broader Safe System approach and Vision Zero strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. 

"The launch of this program strengthens our collaboration with cities and towns as we work together to increase driver awareness, reduce vehicle speeds, and make our roads safer for everyone," said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "MassDOT's top priority is and always will be safety so we are excited to partner with cities and towns to provide these signs to qualifying applications at no up front cost to municipalities." 

Research shows that driver feedback signs are among the most effective tools for influencing driver behavior, reducing average speeds by 2–17 percent and lowering collision severity by 23–45 percent in urban environments. Driver feedback signs are particularly effective in speed transition zones where roadway design or context changes, such as moving from rural to suburban or urban areas. 

Details on the program overview, eligibility, application materials, FAQs, and contact information are available on MassDOT's Municipal Planning & Support Team's webpage: https://www.mass.gov/massdot-municipal-planning-and-support.

Information sessions and webinars will be offered to communities through the application and eligibility process. Notifications to municipal leaders, legislators, and regional partners will be sent via email as soon as details are available. 


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Companion Corner: Loki at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and playful dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Loki is a little less than a year old and is a terrier/pit mix who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Loki. 

"He is very friendly, very social. He loves every single human. He's good with other dogs. He's just a lovely, lovely puppy who has a few things that he could still work on. He is young and learning."

Loki was brought in because his former home didn't have enough time for him and wanted him to be able to have a family who could give him the attention he deserves.

"He was brought in just because they didn't have time to continue working with a puppy," she said. "So nothing, nothing too serious, really, just he needs someone who can give him a lot of time, because he really does need that time, that attention as he grows and matures and works on this training."

He is still young so he has a bit to learn and has been hard at work learning new things including potty training and playing with other dogs.

"He can get a little bit mouthy, so sometimes, when he gets excited with his toys, he mouths on your hands a little bit. So that's something that we're working on showing him just more appropriate uses of his mouth when he's tugging," Olivieri  said. "Also, he can be a little bit reactive when he is out on walks and he can see other dogs, he tends to want to bark, and it's all just out of excitement and wanting to go see the other dog. So these are a couple things that we are working on with him here at the shelter, and he's been doing really, really well." 

Loki loves to play and go outside and will need a family who will want to take him on lots of walks. He can do well with a dog his size with introduction but should not go to a home with cats. They also say children 10 and older because Loki can be a little jumpy.

"He is very active, and he loves to go on hikes and walks and a lot of playtime. So someone who can devote a lot of that time to him, because he just wants to adventure," she said. "He wants to do everything. And also he could work on some training. Someone who would also devote some time to doing some training classes and really working with him on some reactivity and some mouthiness."

Loki is a great friend to play with other dogs and also loves to tug on stuffed animals and play fetch. While you may have to train him, he loves to learn and will be a great student and snuggle buddy.

"He loves to play with other dogs. He's a very social boy. He adapts his play style really well to other dogs. He loves to go for walks. He loves to play tug. He loves his stuffies here. He likes to play fetch. He loves to learn. He really likes to train. He really likes to be with you. He gives really good eye contact, good engagement. He loves learning new things. And more than just learning, he loves doing it with people. He just likes spending time with people. He also really likes to cuddle. Once his daily exercise needs are met. He's like a really good snuggle buddy."

Loki loves to meet anyone and everyone and is excited for his new family.

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