Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan recognizes Merle Ferber, in the white coat, for her work on the project.

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail now extends a half-mile farther into Pittsfield, literally paving the way for infrastructure through the downtown and beyond.

Local and state officials beckoned the first wave of pedestrians on the new leg with a ribbon cutting Thursday morning. The trail currently is more than 14 miles long and connects Lime Street in Adams to Merrill Road.

"Outdoor recreation is a vital economy not only here in Pittsfield but in the Berkshires. Pittsfield is always looking for ways to provide more opportunities for both residents and visitors to enjoy the natural environment that we have in the Berkshires. I must say that I'm biased towards Pittsfield as we have the best of both worlds," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"We have an active community with a vibrant downtown within a few minutes of captivating natural landscapes. In addition to the rail trail, Pittsfield is fortunate to be home to two beautiful lakes, the state forest, 29 parks, and hundreds of acres of open space and conservation areas. These resources are significant assets that we must protect so we can continue to enjoy them in the years ahead."

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath held up a copy of the city's Bike and Pedestrian Study done nearly 20 years ago. It articulated the construction of a rail trail to this point.

"As a planner, we all know that sometimes things take a long time to come to fruition but here we are today. We've realized this vision, and it is a result of a lot of hard work and advocacy from folks and a lot of the friendly faces that we see here in the audience today," he said.

"But you know, with each section that we construct, we're getting closer to realizing our vision for a true Berkshire bike path. One that connects Vermont with Connecticut and of course, having the section through Pittsfield is important in making that connection and realizing that connection."

The city's connection began in 2022 when a completed 1.5-mile section connected Crane Avenue to the Lanesborough town line. Construction on this latest leg began one year ago and includes a new 11-space parking lot accompanied by a pedestrian hybrid beacon signal at the entrance.