Mayor James M. Ruberto announced the City of Pittsfield has been awarded a $1.2 million Public Works and Economic Development grant for Downtown Streetscape Improvements. In making this announcement Mayor Ruberto thanked Secretary of Transportation Aloisi, Representative Speranzo, and Senator Downing for their ongoing support for the continued renaissance of downtown Pittsfield.
The Mayor went on to say, “With four projects going into construction by the end of April, this is an exciting time for the streetscape program.” The PWED award will allow the City to continue this momentum up North Street by providing the funds necessary to carry streetscape improvements from Park Square to Columbus Avenue.
Representing a capital investment of $6.4 million plus design, the four projects that will be in construction this year include:
* Safety and streetscape improvements at the intersection of Housatonic and South;
* Sidewalk and median improvements on South Street from Housatonic to Park Square;
* Traffic and streetscape improvements around Park Square; and
* Signal upgrades at the intersection of Center and West Streets.
All four of these projects are being managed by MassHighway. Contracts have been awarded on all four projects and construction will begin by the end of April.
The PWED program, administered by the Executive Office of Transportation, provides infrastructure funding for projects supporting critical economic development investments. This award recognizes the significant public and private investments that have and continue to be made in Pittsfield’s downtown. PWED funds will be used to pay for the actual construction for the first two blocks of North Street. The City has funded the design work, which is in progress. It is expected this phase of streetscape will be in construction in 2010.
