BRPC Receives Nearly $200K For Safety Plan

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission received a $198,593 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program.
 
The grant will be used to develop a comprehensive safety action plan. 
 
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced approximately $30.6 million in awards to 17 municipalities and Regional Planning Agencies through the first round of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program.
 
The Program was established through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and includes approximately $5 billion in appropriated funds to be awarded over the next five years.  Approximately $1 billion has been appropriated specifically for the FY2022 grant rounds.
 
"MassDOT is pleased to work collaboratively with municipal leaders, Metropolitan Area Planning Councils and Regional Planning Agencies to further the goals of Safe Streets for All," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca. "We will continue to support the development of safety action plans and continue to work with our partners to improve transportation infrastructure to help make travel safer for the public whether people choose to walk, bike, take public transportation or drive."
 
The SS4A program funding awards can be used to improve roadway safety by supporting communities in developing comprehensive safety action plans based on a Safe Systems Approach, conduct data analyses, and implement projects and strategies that seek to significantly reduce or eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, micromobility users, motorists, public transportation customers, users of personal conveyance, and commercial vehicle operators.  Additionally, awarded funding can also be used to support robust stakeholder engagement in order to ensure that all community members have a voice in developing plans, projects, and strategies.
 

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Proprietor's Lodge Dock Proposal Continued for Third Time

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A seasonal dock proposal at the Proprietor's Lodge has seen some changes but the neighborhood is still not on board.

Thursday's Conservation Commission meeting included concerns about the viability of the project and a resident accusing the project engineer of putting the public in danger by deeming a concrete wall structurally sound.

"Because of the amount of revisions and changes on what is a schematic drawing, I'm actually concerned. My concern just continues to grow at how viable of a proposal this actually is," abutter Cassidy Carlotto said.

"There are a number of order of conditions that are going behind this and there are a number of pieces in the proposal that continue to change."

A notice of intent application was continued for the third time pending certificates of compliance and the need for updated plans. The restaurant, located at 22 Waubeek Road on Ponstoosuc Lake, would like to install a 12-slip seasonal dock for customers.

An NOI for the same project was denied by the commission in 2019 and the applicant appealed it with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which then issued a superseding order of conditions.

That order has now expired.

Abutters have voiced opposition to the project at all three meetings, citing safety concerns with the right of way used by swimmers.

James Scalise of SK Design explained that there were some "loose ends" to correct after the last meeting. He returned with a couple of changes to the plan after meeting with the state Department of Environmental Protection on-site.

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