Great Barrington Awarded Microtransit and Last-Mile Transit Grant

03:18PM / Thursday, March 05, 2026Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — MassDOT awarded the town $600,000 to continue their microtransit program serving Southern Berkshire County.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced nine awards totaling $10 million through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Microtransit and Last-Mile Transit Grant Program.

The funding will support Regional Transit Authorities, municipalities, and a Regional Planning Agency in expanding flexible, technology-enabled transit options that improve access to jobs, housing, education and essential services across Massachusetts.

"Through MassDOT's new Microtransit and Last Mile Transit Grant Program, MassDOT is empowering municipalities, RTAs and Regional Planning Agencies to deliver innovative transportation solutions that focus on connectivity between transit hubs and destinations. These programs will connect riders to the jobs, housing, education and destinations they depend on, while improving quality of life across the Commonwealth," said Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil?Eng. "Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their leadership in supporting these investments and to the Legislature for their continued commitment to expanding transportation options for all Massachusetts residents."

The grants will support projects that use microtransit, on-demand shared-ride services, and last-mile connections that link riders to transit hubs and key destinations. Award recipients will use the funding to expand rural access, improve mobility for people who lack transit options, and support communities advancing sustainable housing and transportation planning. Three awards will fund regional bikeshare initiatives that strengthen first and last mile connections, while six awards support microtransit services.

This is a new grant program made possible by $10 million in Fair Share funding through the FY25 Supplemental budget. This round was competitive, and additional applications will be funded through the Community Transit Grant Program operating and mobility management funding, with award announcements forthcoming.

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Great Barrington Fire, Police Respond to Chimney Fire

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
02:48PM / Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Fire Chief Scott Turner called for mutual aid as soon as he saw flames.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Firefighters made quick work of a chimney fire on Tuesday afternoon and two police officers aided the occupant in escaping the building.

Fire Chief Scott Turner said the blaze at 205 North St. was reported about 12:38 p.m.

"When I arrived on scene, we had a small amount of flames coming out of the eaves of the roof over by the chimney for the wood stove, and then we had light smoke conditions on the second floor," he said.

Police Officers Andres Huertas and Elias Casey were first on the scene and immediately entered the single-family home to find the occupant was on the second floor.

They helped her out of the building, Turner said, "they did a great job."

The chimney is a metal chimney and burn marks could been seen where it meets the eaves on the side of the building.

North Street is a narrow residential way and firetrucks from Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Richmond, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge were parked along nearby streets. Scene support was provided by police, Southern Berkshire Ambulance, and National Grid.

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