NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It's been 26 years since the concept of a Connecticut to Vermont bike trail was first proposed — and 130 since a proposal was put forward for a path between North Adams and Williamstown. 

 

Those dreams took another step forward on Friday with the announcement of $17.3 million in federal funding for the "Adventure to Ashuwillticook Trail," a 9.3-section from the Mohican Path at Williamstown's Spruces to Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. 

 

"This is a major success because it connects Williamstown and Adams and North Adams," said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who was instrumental in obtaining the funding as chairman of Ways and Means Committee. "It's a big deal, and we're going to hear from experts, but I want to thank the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Great work on this. I can be helpful to you, for sure, as Eddie and Elizabeth were [U.S. Sens. Markey and Warren], but I can't be helpful to you unless you have a good product, and you had a good product."

 

The grant award is the result of a collaborative effort involving Berkshire Funding Focus, a government funding initiative of the BRPC, along with Adams, North Adams and Williamstown, Mass MoCA and the Tourists resort through which the bike path will run. BRPC is the lead agent and will coordinate the partnership and manage the grant award over the course of the four-year process.

 

Neal was joined at City Hall by Mayor Jennifer Macksey, state Sen. Paul Mark, state Rep. John Barrett III, BRPC Executive Director Tom Matuszko, Mass MoCA Director Kristy Edmunds and Benjamin Svenson and Eric Kerns, of the Tourists resort. 

 

Macksey explained why spending $17 million on bike path planning was important, in the same way she had to her 93-year-old mother. 

 

"She said, 'we need water improvements. We need bridges fixed. Why are you building this bike path? And we had a conversation about economic development. We had a conversation about recreation. We had a conversation about wellness in the community," the mayor said. "But most importantly, we had a conversation that our communities cannot be siloed anymore, that we have to connect them, and this is the way of the future."