{"id":8140,"date":"2013-03-04T11:26:51","date_gmt":"2013-03-04T16:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/?page_id=8140"},"modified":"2015-07-03T19:22:24","modified_gmt":"2015-07-03T23:22:24","slug":"berkshire-metropolitan-planning-organization-bmpo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thebeatnews.org\/BeatTeam\/berkshire-metropolitan-planning-organization-bmpo\/","title":{"rendered":"Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Transportation networks have a tremendous impact on ecosystems. It is imperative that we get involved with transportation planning at the earliest stages – usually 10 to 20 years before a road actually is under construction! <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) is responsible for carrying out Continuing, Comprehensive and Coordinated (3C) transportation planning for Berkshire County.<\/span><\/p>\n

BEAT videotapes and televises the BMPO meetings.<\/p>\n

BEAT has a seat on the Transportation Advisory Committee which gives advice to the BMPO. <\/strong><\/p>\n

About the BMPO<\/a><\/p>\n

Structure of the BMPO<\/a><\/p>\n

South Street Alternative Study<\/a><\/p>\n

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

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About the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO)<\/strong><\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

The BMPO certifies the multi-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program<\/a> (UPWP<\/a>)(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<\/a>) staff and consultants under the auspices of the BMPO.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Other Transportation Planning Projects the BMPO has certified and BRPC is carrying out are found in the UPWP<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n

The following links will take you to documents on the BRPC website:<\/p>\n

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“South Street Alternative Study”<\/strong><\/p>\n

This study is not just about South Street in Pittsfield<\/b>. It
\nextends from the Lenox\/Pittsfield line, north up South St. to the intersection
\nwith West and East Housatonic Streets, then west down West Housatonic
\nStreet to the intersection with Barker Road, south down Barker Road
\nto the intersection with Tamarack (by the airport), and back by Tamarack
\nand Dan Fox Drive to South Street.<\/p>\n

Alternative included: changing the timing on the traffic lights, widening
\nSouth Street to include bicycle lanes, adding a center turning lane
\non South Street, making South Street four lanes, improving Tamarack
\nto Barker Road, or several different versions of extending Dan Fox Drive
\nout through “vacant land” to West Street. One version hits
\nWest Street next to Crosby School after going along Clapp Park.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Previously – BEAT is very concerned, not only about
\nthe idea of extending Dan Fox Drive through “vacant land”,
\nbut also that Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation
\nPlanners call OPEN SPACE = Vacant Land!!! We need to change
\ntheir perception of our land!<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Also see Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s webpage about the South Street Alternative Study. <\/a><\/p>\n

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Structure of the BMPO<\/strong>The BMPO used to have four members: one representative of the Executive Office of Transportation, the Massachusetts Highway Department, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. However, that has just changed. Now the BMPO will include one representative from each of four regional sub-areas of Berkshire County and the cities of North Adams and Pittsfield in addition to the previous members of the BMPO. The members, as of March 2007 are:<\/p>\n