Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization

BEAT videotapes the meetings of the BMPO for broadcast on Pittsfield Community Television's City Link channel 18 on cable. Copies will be available from PCTV for a fee by calling Dave at 413-445-4234. These tapes are also distributed to North and South County as well.

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About the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO)

"The Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) The Berkshire MPO is responsible under federal law (23, USC, Chapter I, Sec. 134) for carrying out a continuing, comprehensive and coordinated (3C) metropolitan transportation planning process for the Berkshire Region." In other words, the BMPO does most of the transportation planning (other than bridges) that will use federal money for Berkshire County. This has a tremendous impact on the environment.

The BMPO certifies the multi-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)(pdf) for Berkshire County. A transportation improvement is not eligible for federal funding unless it is listed in the TIP. The UPWP is a list, budget, and description of all federally funded transportation planning work proposed each year (Oct-Sept). The work is conducted mostly by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) staff and consultants under the auspices of the BMPO.

All this planning takes place years in advance of the actual work and if not done well can have an adverse impact on the environment when it is actually implemented. However, the public seldom hears about these projects until all the planning is done. BEAT wants to change that. To that end, we have started to videotape and air all the BMPO meetings and many of the Berkshire Transportation Forums that BRPC holds. We also try to advertise these meetings and forums as widely as possible. We believe public involvement will lead to better planning.

Other Transportation Planning Projects the BMPO has certified and BRPC is carrying out are found in the UPWP (pdf)

The following links will take you to documents on the BRPC website:

• Mass Turnpike Exit One Report (pdf)
• 2003 Transportation Plan
• Berkshire Biking & Walking Transportation Plan (draft)
• Northern Berkshire Community Transit Study
  

"South Street Alternative Study"

This study is not just about South Street in Pittsfield. It extends from the Lenox/Pittsfield line, north up South St. to the intersection with West and East Housatonic Streets, then west down West Housatonic Street to the intersection with Barker Road, south down Barker Road to the intersection with Tamarack (by the airport), and back by Tamarack and Dan Fox Drive to South Street.

Alternative included: changing the timing on the traffic lights, widening South Street to include bicycle lanes, adding a center turning lane on South Street, making South Street four lanes, improving Tamarack to Barker Road, or several different versions of extending Dan Fox Drive out through "vacant land" to West Street. One version hits West Street next to Crosby School after going along Clapp Park.

BEAT is pleased that traffic signal optimization on Route 7 & 20 was included in the final selection. BEAT is also glad that the idea of extending Dan Fox Drive through the wetlands, streams, and open space to West Housatonic St.was dropped.

HOWEVER, we do not like the new road proposed from West Housatonic Street to West Street! We do not believe in the need for this road, and we certainly do not think the public supported this option. The public were focused on stopping the widening of South Street and stopping the road from Dan Fox north. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission slipped this piece of VERY EXPENSIVE road in for their own reasons - not because the public supported it.

Previously - BEAT is very concerned, not only about the idea of extending Dan Fox Drive through "vacant land", but also that Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's Transportation Planners call OPEN SPACE = Vacant Land!!! We need to change their perception of our land!

Update - The previous Senior Transportation Planner at BRPC left for another position out of state. The new lead Transportation Planner appears to be much more sensitive to environmental issues. We applaud her willingness to listen to an include ideas from environmental and alternative transportation advocates.

Also see Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's webpage about the South Street Alternative Study.

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