Pittsfield Launches New Emergency Notification System

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield has partnered with CivicPlus to implement a new Mass Notification software. By partnering with CivicPlus, the city will be able to issue urgent notifications, emergency instructions, warnings, and routine communications to subscribed residents via phone call, email, text message, and voicemail to keep people safe and informed.
 
In a local emergency, community members subscribed to this Mass Notification system will benefit from immediate, actionable information and instructions sent via their preferred notification channel. Residents can sign up for alerts in a variety of languages including but not limited to: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese.
 
"Communicating with residents is an essential function of local government, especially in times of emergency," said Mayor Peter Marchetti. "This new system will provide both emergency and non-emergency alerts to keep residents up to date with relevant information."
 
"These notifications are essential in our emergency planning efforts," said Pittsfield Fire Chief Thomas Sammons. "I encourage everyone to sign up for these notifications so they can stay up to date with information related to inclement weather, evacuation notices, road closures and more."
 
The CivicPlus Mass Notification software replaces CodeRED that was previously used for similar notifications. Any member of the public that wants to receive emergency and/or non-emergency communications and alerts will be required to sign up with Mass Notifications.
 
To sign up for Mass Notifications, residents should visit https://www.pittsfieldma.gov/alert-signup and the select the alerts they want to receive. An account will need to be created to receive alerts.
 
A CivicsPlus how-to sign up video is available directly in the portal that will answer most questions about the sign-up process. However, any resident that requires additional help can visit or call:
 
• Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue (413) 499-9480
• Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street (413) 499-9346
• City Hall: Main phone number (413) 449-5600, press option #7
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Lee: 3 Miles of Route 20 Being Repaved Next Year

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LEE, Mass. — Beginning next year, the state will repave three miles of Route 20 and reinforce two bridges, one over the Massachusetts Turnpike. 

Last week, the state Department of Transportation held a virtual design public hearing for the project. In addition to milling and resurfacing of the route, bridge structures L-05-024 (over Greenwater Brook) and L-05-052 (over I-90) will see maintenance repairs. 

"We just wanted to thank MassDOT for doing this project. We're very supportive of having the road redone and appreciate the work on it," Town Administrator Christopher Brittain said. 

"The town of Lee is looking forward to having the road repaved." 

Construction will begin in the spring of 2027.  

Traffic will be maintained with short-term flagging operations, and steel plates will conceal deck patching over Greenwater Brook. There will be staged construction on the bridge over the highway, with a single alternating travel lane controlled by a temporary signal. 

The project is estimated to cost $6.8 million, 90 percent from the federal government and 10 percent from the state; it is in the FY26 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. 

The hearing included public information on activities and rights-of-way needs for tree trimming, new utility poles, grading, drainage swales, and a driveway apron along the project corridor, items identified during the late design phases. 

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