Pittsfield's West Street Topic of Forum

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A community forum will take another look into the proposed changes for slowing traffic on West Street.
 
The public meeting will be held in the Crosby Elementary School auditorium, 517 West St., on Monday, July 24, at 6 p.m. It is being hosted by he city's Department of Public Services, the Pittsfield Community Design Center and City Councilor Dina Lampiasi.
 
An overview of the proposed changes for traffic-calming measures for West Street between Valentine Road and Government Drive will be provided. Attendees will also have an opportunity to share their thoughts and provide input on the project.
 
Proposed improvements that were presented earlier this month include narrowing the road, reconfiguring travel lanes into 10- to 11-foot travel lanes, upgraded Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps, rapid flashing beacons at mid-block street crossings, re-aligning crosswalks, shortening pedestrian crossing distances, eliminating dedicated turn lanes and reducing turning radii.
 
The safety of the West Street corridor was fast tracked earlier this year when a mother was killed and her young daughter injured when they were struck while crossing the street. The Pittsfield Community Design Center is a non-city affiliated group advocating for safer streets and has 
 
For additional information on these meetings, please contact Tyler Shedd, city engineer, at 413-499-9417.

Tags: road safety,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Safety Solutions Proposed for Berkshire Mall Intersection

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A speed bump and traffic mirror have been proposed at the reportedly problematic intersection of Old State Road and the Berkshire Mall entrance.
 
Last week, abutters approached the Select Board with concerns about drivers ignoring stop signs and speeding through the area. Target owns its building and is the lone business left on the property.   
 
"When you turn into Old State Road, our driveways are right there," Judy Bennett said. "Nobody stops, nobody slows down to come around that corner. They go faster and that's where someone is going to get hurt."
 
Carl Bennett added, "We are taking our lives into our own hands when we pull out during the day."
 
The Old State Road bridge connects the mall and Old State Road to Route 8. Abutter Pauline Hunt would like to see it closed entirely, making the Connector Road the access point from Route 8.
 
"That entrance isn't necessary," she said.
 
"It's chaos. There's an entrance over by the bike path that would serve everybody, there would be no problem, and there are lights at the end of it, it's a dream to get into there. I don't see the reason that chaos is there."
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories