BRTA, Great Barrington Receives Community Transit Grant Program Funds

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Town of Great Barrington was awarded $32,000 to fund the purchase of operational software for on-demand ride scheduling and dispatch to support a new microtransit pilot program in Great Barrington, Egremont, and Stockbridge
 
The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) was awarded $8,414 from the grant program to continue funding for salaries and materials to support BRTA's travel training program.
 
The Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of $1.9 million for municipalities, Councils on Aging, Regional Transit Authorities, and nonprofit organizations under the Community Transit Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). This annual competitive grant program awards money to be used for transit operations and mobility management projects that complement and expand the community transportation options available in communities across Massachusetts. A second set of awards for wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be made in the spring.
 
"Community Transit Grants provide critical funding to municipalities and local organizations to help people get where they need to go in an accessible, age-friendly way," said Governor Charlie Baker. "We are proud to fund these grants and see the work that gets accomplished through this program."
 
The Community Transit Grant Program is the Commonwealth's annual competitive grant program to distribute both Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310, Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities funds and State Mobility Assistance Program funds. The FTA Section 5310 grant program provides funding to assist with the purchase of capital equipment, mobility management projects, and operational costs in order to meet the mobility needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities of any age. State Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) funds are used to assist in the provision of transportation services to seniors and persons with disabilities exclusively through the purchase of eligible vehicles. This round of awards uses only federal 5310 funds; the spring announcement will include both 5310 and MAP awards.
 
The funding announced today is for the FY23 cycle, for operating and mobility management applications submitted in the spring of 2022. Thirty operating and mobility management projects are receiving funding. Vehicle awards for applications submitted in spring 2022 will be announced in spring 2023.

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Pontoosuc Ave. Bridge Project Meeting Set

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Department of Transportation will hold a virtual information meeting on the proposed replacement of the Pontoosuc Avenue bridge.
 
The new 65-foot span over the West Branch of the Housatonic River near the intersection with Wahconah Street will include complete bridge reconstruction and Americans with Disabilities Act compliant upgrades to the pedestrian facilities. The total length of the project along the roadway is approximately 455 linear feet and will include the addition of a 5-foot shoulder bike lane, reconstruction of the sidewalk and new pavement markings and signage.
 
This project is planned to be funded through the 2026 Transportation Improvement Program for the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization at an estimated cost of $7.7 million. 
 
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026. 
 
The bridge will be closed to all modes of transportation during construction. There is no potential for a temporary vehicular or pedestrian bridge given the site characteristics and adjacent properties. Vehicle and pedestrian detours are required to provide adequate accessibility accommodation.
 
A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The city is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT's policy concerning land acquisitions will be presented at the hearing.
 
Reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance is free of charge upon request (e.g interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, live captioning, videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats), as available. 
 
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