Conte Community School Wins Safe Routes to School Bike Rack Grant

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced the winners of the 2024-2025 Bike Rack Grant through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program.
 
Conte COmmunity School was one of the tree winners.
 
Now in its second year, this grant helps schools replace old, worn, and damaged bike racks, or acquire new or additional bike racks. 
 
"For students and staff who bike to get to school, a bike rack is just as essential as a traditional parking lot for those who drive," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "We are pleased to continue to promote safe bicycling with grant programs like this and congratulate this year’s winners for their commitment to supporting school community members who walk, bike, and roll." 
 
All SRTS partner schools were encouraged to apply. The bike racks are intended to be ordered and installed within the current school year. Each selected winner receives the funding necessary for the acquisition and installment of two to five bike racks.
 
Over 60 applications were submitted. The other winners are: Blueberry Hill Elementary School, Longmeadow and Jenkins Elementary School, Scituate 
 
This is the first round of bike rack grant awardees, not including the successful pilot projects in Medford and Brockton during the 2023-2024 school year. Each of the pilot schools were given bike racks that could accommodate 15 new bike parking spaces. The selected bike racks were customizable, so schools could decide what colors they wanted and if they wanted the racks bolted into the ground or resting on pavement/grass. 
 
The Massachusetts SRTS Program, sponsored by MassDOT and with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to walk, bike, and roll to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments.  
 
The program currently serves more than 1,200 schools in more than 280 communities across the Commonwealth. Through these partnerships, the Massachusetts SRTS Program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety. SRTS also provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives. 
 
 

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Public Meeting about Disaster Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield has scheduled a public meeting to discuss disaster preparedness and solicit input on the city's updated Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The meeting, scheduled for Monday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, located at 330 North Street, will address potential natural hazards affecting Pittsfield, including flooding, tornadoes, and earthquakes. The plan also outlines actions to mitigate the impact of these hazards.

The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC), consisting of city leaders, will present information on vulnerable areas within the city and discuss strategies to minimize potential damage. The city aims to gather public input to prioritize risks and develop effective solutions.

A FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan enables the city to access pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant funding from FEMA.

A virtual meeting option is available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person. The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82500118599. Call-in options are available by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering Meeting ID: 825 0011 8599.

Questions regarding the plan can be directed to Thomas Sammons, Fire Department Chief and Emergency Management Director, at 413-448-9764 or tsammons@cityofpittsfield.org.

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