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North-Central Berkshire Access Study
Introduction
Study Design & Public Participation
Draft Solutions
Transportation Fact Sheets
List of Problems
Screening Criteria

Home : BRPC Archive : Transportation Planning : Access Study : Transportation
List of Problems, Goals, Issues and Concerns
Circulation within the Study Area
Connections between the Study Area and External Locations
Freight Movement
Safety
Street Character and Use
Infrastructure Improvements
Quality of Life
Environment
Economics
Tourism and Seasonal Demand
Circulation within the Study Area

General Conditions/Trends Affecting Traffic Flows

Comment Source
TRAFFIC CONFLICTS
1. Arterial roadways also have local street functions, such as school bus routes and garbage collection, which contribute to delay. Previously Identified
2. The use of main streets in town centers results in increased travel time for through-trips due to conflicts with local traffic movements, on-street parking, loading activities and pedestrians Previously Identified
3. Regional traffic movements conflict with pedestrian and local traffic movements in Lee and other town centers. Previously Identified
4. Through-traffic movements in Pittsfield and Lee often require multiple turns, increasing the length of trip time Previously Identified
5. Minimize roadway use conflicts; provide through traffic and local access Previously Identified
INCREASED USE OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS
6. The number of traffic signals has increased from 76 in 1982 to 104 in 1996, resulting in more frequent stops by traffic traveling in the area. (Sixty percent of all signals are in Pittsfield.) Previously Identified

Lee Public Meeting

7. Growth of strip mall retail areas outside town centers has put new demands on the roadway system, including need for more lights and left-turn lanes to resolve conflicting movements, more driveways, an increase in "off-peak" and weekend traffic, and truck/delivery trips. Previously Identified
IMPACTS OF TRUCK TRAFFIC
8. Truck traffic increased throughout the Study Area North Adams Public Meeting

Lee Public Meeting

Pittsfield Public Meeting

9. Trucks cause environmental impacts (e.g., Main Street in Lee and conflict with scenic quality of Hancock). Lee Public Meeting
10. Truck traffic is a safety problem. Lee Public Meeting
11. Truck traffic is a congestion problem. Lee Public Meeting
12. Truck size has increased. Pittsfield Public Meeting
13. Trucks traveling on two-lane roadways slow traffic on hills without passing lanes and in town centers. Previously Identified


Non-Auto Modes

Comment Source
TRANSIT SERVICE
14. Support public transit. Previously identified

Lee Public Meeting

15. Transit is a problem due to number of stops, ineffective routing (Rte. 8-8A-Coltsville), lack of service after 7:00 PM, frequency. Dalton Public Meeting

North Adams Public Meeting

16. Need public transit to bring people to North County, improve access to North Adams and MCLA Lee Public Meeting

North Adams Public Meeting

17. Improve use of existing trolleys in Lee. Lee Public Meeting
18. Provide mass transit system for transit-dependent and as an alternative to the private automobile. Previously identified
19. There are no student fares on the public transit system. Previously Identified
20. Provide for efficient transfer points. Previously identified
21. Transit ridership has steadily declined in the Berkshire County RTA district as travel patterns in the area have changed. Previously Identified
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN
22. Encourage the use of transport such as pedestrian/bicycle facilities. Previously identified
23. The use of main streets in town centers results in increased travel time for through-trips due to conflicts with local traffic movements, on-street parking, loading activities and pedestrians Previously Identified
24. Study Area needs more bicycle paths and better access Dalton Public Meeting

Lee Public Meeting

Pittsfield Public Meeting

25. Hills make cycling difficult Lee Public Meeting
26. Lack of good sidewalks/pedestrian pathways Lee Public Meeting
27. Poor condition of available sidewalks/pedestrian pathways Lee Public Meeting
28. Future roadway widenings may reduce bicycle and pedestrian safety Pittsfield Public Meeting



Study Area Traffic Corridors

Comment Source
GENERAL
29. Look at access between towns Dalton Public Meeting
30. Need to connect four-lane highways. Pittsfield Public Meeting
31. Due to location of neighborhoods, limited east-west connections for trucks exist between Rte. 7 & Rte. 8 north of Pittsfield Previously Identified

Pittsfield Public Meeting

32. Through-traffic movements in Pittsfield and Lee often require multiple turns, increasing the length of trip time Previously Identified

33. Slow traffic on two-lane roadways on hills Pittsfield Public Meeting
34. Pittsfield is a traffic bottleneck North Adams Public Meeting
35. Keep through traffic out of city. Pittsfield Public Meeting
36. Through traffic problems in Pittsfield should be solved first. Lee Public Meeting
37. In Pittsfield, east-west routes share same corridors as north-south, increasing traffic and requiring turns to make through connections Previously Identified

PITTSFIELD LOCATIONS
38. Downtown: Downtown needs northbound and southbound (one-way) streets with no turns and sequence-timed traffic signals. Pittsfield Public Meeting
39. Coltsville/Allendale: MHD has improved Coltsville, but the number of signals between Allendale and downtown Pittsfield are a source of delay. Dalton Public Meeting

Pittsfield Public Meeting

Lee Public Meeting

40. First Street: Congestion is a problem, including Dunkin Donuts drive-through traffic. Regional Study Committee

Pittsfield Public Meeting

41. Holmes Road: Congestion is a problem. North Adams Public Meeting
42. Route 9/BMC: The STOP controlled intersection at Rte. 9/BMC is difficult for traffic and pedestrian crossings Dalton Public Meeting
43. Washington Mountain Road: Roadway has steep grades, provides access to Pittsfield from the east. Previously Identified

CORRIDORS OUTSIDE PITTSFIELD
44. ROUTE 2: Traffic congestion between North Adams and Williamstown and difficult roadway geometry/connections at hairpin turn and 270 degree turn from Route 8 to Route 2 West North Adams Public Meeting

Pittsfield Public Meeting

45. ROUTE 8: Bottlenecks in Adams and Cheshire include traffic light in Cheshire speed limits that slow traffic North Adams Public Meeting
46. ROUTE 20: Congestion, noise, safety problems related to conflicts between regional traffic movements and pedestrian/ local traffic movements; need for through traffic to make multiple turns, increasing the length of trip time; traffic in and out of fast food establishments on Main Street and outlet center adds to congestion. Lee Public Meeting

Previously Identified

47. ROUTE 41: Trouble pulling out of driveway due to increases in truck and general traffic; speeding; Route 20/Route 41 intersection Pittsfield Public Meeting
48. ROUTE 295: Lack of passing lanes on Route 295. Pittsfield Public Meeting
49. ROUTE 102: Angle parking makes it hard to back out in Stockbridge and vehicles slowing down in front of Red Lion Inn. Dalton Public Meeting
50. ROUTE 116: Not a good route for through trucks Dalton Public Meeting


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Connections between the Study Area and External Locations

Traffic Flows

Comment Source
GENERAL
51. A small percentage of regional traffic comes from the east, 85% comes into the County from south and west Dalton Public Meeting
52. One solution may not address two problems of east and west travel. Pittsfield Public Meeting
53. Improve Access to the interstate highway system and regional highways. Previously Identified
54. Need direct transportation from Turnpike to North Adams North Adams Public Meeting
CONNECTIONS
55. To/From East: In North County, alternative routes are used to avoid Pittsfield and Lee: west to NY go east on Pike; Route 2 to 9; and Rte.9 to Rte. 8A to Rte. 116 to I-91 North Adams Public Meeting
56. To/From West: In North County, New York is easier to access and people would rather go to Troy or Albany, NY than South County North Adams Public Meeting
57. Existing Turnpike Ramps/Interchanges: Existing interchanges are inadequate and only benefit South County. North Adams Public Meeting
58. Inadequate Access to Pike: Proposals for adding connections at Stockbridge or Becket face local opposition. Dalton Public Meeting

Lee Public Meeting

North Adams Public Meeting

Pittsfield Public Meeting

59. Turnpike Connector/Access Roads: Proposals for adding connections at Stockbridge or Becket face local opposition.
60. There is a problem getting to MassPike, need better connection Dalton Public Meeting
61. Suggests a Turnpike spur (a very long exit ramp through the state forest from Becket to Pittsfield with no on/off capability). Lee Public Meeting
62. Need access roads to put us on interstate more quickly. Need north/south and east/west corridors and better access. Pittsfield Public Meeting
63. North/South access from Washington Mountain. Pittsfield Public Meeting
64. Consider below-grade underpasses with cross streets ' Pittsfield Public Meeting
65. Need quicker and safer North-South vehicle movement North Adams Public Meeting
66. Supports an eastern access road North Adams Public Meeting
67. Does bypass make sense for County? Probably around Pittsfield Dalton Public Meeting
68. Need quicker and safer North-South vehicle movement North Adams Public Meeting
69. Route 7 won't help everyone North Adams Public Meeting
70. Through traffic in Pittsfield should be solved first. Lee Public Meeting
71. Connector road takes away from businesses in South County. A successful connector road example is Manchester, VT. Lee Public Meeting
72. Lenox's position: We have done enough. Don't want to widen Routes 7/20 any more. Lee Public Meeting
73. I love Lee. Studying bypass roads makes me nervous Lee Public Meeting
74. Interested in quality of life on the "wrong side" of the bypass. Lee Public Meeting
75. Concerned citizens of Lee would oppose a connector. Lee Public Meeting


Non-Auto Modes

Comment Source
GENERAL
76. County needs roads, airport, train improvements; fiber optics Dalton Public Meeting
77. Preserve and enhance rail services, intercity bus service, and access to air services Previously Identified
78. Consider improvements to fiber optics. Lee Public Meeting
AIRPORT
79. Use air transportation more effectively. Pittsfield Public Meeting
80. Address aircraft use and helicopter pad. Spending 7 million dollars on a runway. Pittsfield Public Meeting
81. Airport in North Adams could be used more North Adams Public Meeting
82. No commuter flights North Adams Public Meeting
83. Are any airport improvements planned? Dalton Public Meeting
RAIL
84. Trains that run east from Pittsfield are undependable North Adams Public Meeting
85. County needs roads, airport, train improvements; fiber optics Dalton Public Meeting
86. Difficult to get a train to Albany. Dalton Public Meeting
87. Can the train track from Pittsfield to Springfield be used? Dalton Public Meeting
88. Mono-rail system suggested, vista liner Dalton Public Meeting
89. More substantial to connect railroad with high speed rail. Solution is not just highways and airports Pittsfield Public Meeting
90. Rail line rip up was a criminal act Pittsfield Public Meeting
BUS
91. Public bus is a problem; need route to and from Boston North Adams Public Meeting
92. Need to encourage bus use, one-way to Albany Dalton Public Meeting
INTERMODAL
93. Provide for efficient transfer points. Previously identified
94. Pittsfield bus and train stations are not located near each other. Previously Identified
95. The bus station has inadequate lighting, is uninviting for pedestrians, and has limited amenities Previously Identified
TRAVELER INFORMATION
96. Signage should be consistent throughout Berkshires North Adams Public Meeting
97. Directions are often difficult to give in North Adams North Adams Public Meeting
98. Visitors rely on the main roads North Adams Public Meeting
99. Maps don't show terrain; problem for some truck drivers North Adams Public Meeting
100. Need overhead signs at intersections for tourists Pittsfield Public Meeting

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Freight Movement

Comment Source
TRUCK VOLUMES
101. Trucks stopping at tolls are "the ultimate kiss of death." Lee Public Meeting
102. Truck traffic has increased North Adams Public Meeting
103. Truck traffic increased, especially with landfill closure North Adams Public Meeting
104. Trucks are all over the place. Lee Public Meeting
105. Where did all the trucks come from? Pittsfield Public Meeting
106. Trucks are noisy and congestion is a problem. Lee Public Meeting
107. Truck issue is high priority Lee Public Meeting
108. I have a business on Main Street. On October 12 we had a holiday ceremony and someone counted 132 trucks in 50 minutes. We couldn't hear the program because of the noise. Lee Public Meeting
109. Truck traffic generated by Mill is safety and congestion problem. Lee Public Meeting
110. Trucks take away scenic quality of Hancock. Pittsfield Public Meeting
111. Where did all the trucks come from? Pittsfield Public Meeting
112. Will we interview truck companies? Pittsfield Public Meeting
113. Trucks are a huge issue; trucks through town; trucks are bigger; trucks on Routes 7 and 20. Pittsfield Public Meeting
TRUCK ROUTES/ROADWAY CONSTRAINTS
114. Due to geography of area and location of residential neighborhoods, there are limited east-west connections available for trucks between Route 7 and Route 8 north of Pittsfield Previously Identified
115. Hard for trucks to turn at W. Housatonic (Route 20 and South Street) Dalton Public Meeting
116. Lenox gets as many truck ban requests as Lee. It never stops local traffic. Trucks find side roads 3-4 miles out of the way to get there in 10 min less time. Lee Public Meeting
117. Trucks traveling on two-lane roadways slow traffic on hills without passing lanes and in town centers. Previously Identified
RAIL
118. Rail has deteriorated. Lee Public Meeting
119. Try to move some freight by rail rather than trailer. Lee Public Meeting
120. We have all types of cargo, and the diversification requires inventive solutions. Lee Public Meeting
121. Rail line rip up was a criminal act Pittsfield Public Meeting
122. Freight movement is oriented toward over-road truck service; limited train service in the study area Previously Identified

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Safety

Comment Source
GENERAL TRAFFIC
123. Huge curve in Cottontown is a safety hazard Dalton Public Meeting
124. Traffic lights are okay because they add more safety and slow traffic. There are 18-20 lights on Route 9. Lee Public Meeting
125. Balance highways with responsibility to provide safety Lee Public Meeting
126. Minimize conflicts among different modes of travel. Previously Identified
127. Modernize and maintain the road system. Previously Identified
128. Congestion, noise, safety are problems on Route 20. Lee Public Meeting
129. Accident rates at locations within study area Regional Study Committee
TRUCK TRAFFIC
130. Truck traffic generated by Mill is safety and congestion problem. Lee Public Meeting
131. Truck Traffic on Laurell Street/Laurell Hill. This street handles all Turnpike traffic. (Traffic continues on Route 102, the Turnpike, etc.). "Just looking" for a serious accident. Lee Public Meeting
132. "Close calls" with trucks on Route 20. Pittsfield Public Meeting
133. Father-in-law crossing Route 41 to get mail hit by a truck. Pittsfield Public Meeting
134. Registered historic property at Rte 295/Rte 41; concern with truck run-ins. Pittsfield Public Meeting
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN
135. Safety concern at Shaker Village; 75,000 annual visitors (potentially 100,000) crossing Route 20 as pedestrians (parking across the street). Pittsfield Public Meeting
136. I live on East New Lenox Rd. Concern for bicycle and pedestrian safety if roads widened. Pittsfield Public Meeting
137. Shaker Village is a bike destination. My husband commutes to Great Barrington by bike. Jogger was hit by a car on Route 41. Safety is problem for rural areas. Pittsfield Public Meeting
138. Mothers with baby carriages walking along roads Pittsfield Public Meeting
139. Regional traffic movements conflict with pedestrian and local traffic movements in Lee and other town centers. Previously Identified
140. Hairpin turn on Route 2 North Adams Public Meeting
WEATHER CONDITIONS
141. Go to Lee to access Pike, only if the weather is bad North Adams Public Meeting
142. Housatonic between Pickett and Main Street bad in wet weather. Lee Public Meeting
143. Winter travel on roads is difficult North Adams Public Meeting
144. Road salt on Route 20 and the Mass. Pike Pittsfield Public Meeting
145. Many routes are not used/unsafe when it snows Pittsfield Public Meeting

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Street Character and Use

Comment Source
GENERAL
146. Traffic is bottlenecked because Lee is only way to get in and out of Turnpike. Lee Public Meeting
147. Arterials have local street functions, (school bus routes/garbage collection), contribute to delay Previously Identified
148. Use of main streets in town centers results in increased travel time for traffic making through-trips due to conflicts with local traffic movements, on-street parking and loading activities and pedestrian traffic Previously Identified
CUT-THROUGH TRAFFIC
149. Lenox has a problem with cut-through traffic in residential areas North Adams Public Meeting
150. Take flow away from downtown/residential areas North Adams Public Meeting
151. Williams St./Holmes Rd. and side streets in Pittsfield are becoming bypasses Dalton Public Meeting
152. Seymour St. in Pittsfield - heavy traffic/high speeds Dalton Public Meeting
OVERFLOW PARKING
153. More MCLA commuters; parking issues, neighborhood impacts North Adams Public Meeting
154. Higher commuter population at MCLA has raised parking issues that impact neighborhoods North Adams Public Meeting
TRUCK TRAFFIC
155. Prefer to have trucks on Main St. than on neighborhood roads. Lee Public Meeting
156. Exclude trucks from High Street. Lee Public Meeting
157. I live on Laurell Street. Can't sleep because of trucks. Get trucks out of town. Lee Public Meeting
158. Truck situation through downtown Lee is better than through Lenox. There would be 4-5 lights through Lenox without the bypass. Lee Public Meeting
159. Trucks are destroying Lee Lee Public Meeting
160. I have a business on Main Street. On October 12 we had a holiday ceremony and someone counted 132 trucks in 50 minutes. Lee Public Meeting
161. Lenox gets as many truck ban requests as Lee. It doesn't stop local traffic. Trucks find side roads 3-4 miles out of the way to get there in 10 min less time. Lee Public Meeting
162. Truck Traffic on Laurell Street/Laurell Hill. This street handles all Turnpike traffic. (Traffic continues on Route 102, the Turnpike, etc.). "Just looking" for a serious accident. Lee Public Meeting
163. Trucks traveling on two-lane roadways slow traffic on hills without passing lanes and in town centers Previously Identified

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Infrastructure Improvements

Comment Source
GENERAL
164. Affects of project in 50-60 yrs? Who will be served then? Pittsfield Public Meeting
165. Need to give opportunity to large communities Dalton Public Meeting
166. Use an appropriate mix of highway improvements, construction, upgrading and facility maintenance Previously identified
167. Patchwork of road projects. Pittsfield Public Meeting
168. Need more passing lanes; more 3-lane roads; give up the shoulders. Pittsfield Public Meeting
169. Optimize the use of existing facilities. Previously Identified
170. Improve street networks Previously Identified
171. What is the status to widen Rte 9? Dalton Public Meeting
COST
172. A new roadway would be expensive and impact the environment Dalton Public Meeting
173. Cost is a key issue Dalton Public Meeting
174. What would a connector road cost? Lee Public Meeting
PAVEMENT CONDITIONS
175. Road cracking and signage are problems North Adams Public Meeting
176. Towns and state don't get enough funding to maintain roads Dalton Public Meeting
177. Rte. 8 in Becket is in bad shape Dalton Public Meeting
178. Berkshire Mall Road needs to be reconstructed Previously Identified
179. Washington/Otis ambulances can't use Washington Mountain Road; pavement condition is too rough for patients Dalton Public Meeting

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Quality of Life

Scenic/Aesthetic Character of Berkshires

Comment Source
180. Preserve environment and beauty of the Berkshires North Adams Public Meeting
181. Keep Berkshire County beautiful Dalton Public Meeting
182. Balance transportation with quality of life issues North Adams Public Meeting
183. Isolation of Berkshires is an attraction North Adams Public Meeting
184. Any change may impact character and destroy retirement industry Dalton Public Meeting
185. Beauty/environment are of paramount importance. Lee Public Meeting
186. Unique character/preservation of the Berkshires. Pittsfield Public Meeting
187. Preserve scenic quality of roadways and Berkshires Pittsfield Public Meeting
188. Fishing on rivers in Pittsfield Pittsfield Public Meeting
189. Becket is quiet town; clean environment for retirement Dalton Public Meeting
190. Character of towns attracts people to County; we shouldn't change/impact it Dalton Public Meeting
191. Trucks take away scenic quality of Hancock. Pittsfield Public Meeting


Impacts of Future Trends

Comment Source
ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION (GENERAL)
192. With more roads, County will become like everywhere else North Adams Public Meeting
193. Don't want super highways or new black-top Dalton Public Meeting
194. Instead of widening roads, we should shrink them like they are doing in Europe. Lee Public Meeting
195. I live on Alvie Road. People living in the "boonies" love rural quality of life. Horrified at the changes that would alter the character of the area. Lee Public Meeting
196. Interested in quality of life on the "wrong side" of the bypass. Lee Public Meeting
197. No widening near the 1200 acres of Shaker Village. Pittsfield Public Meeting
198.
199. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
200. North County is "older" community; many don't have cars. Lee Public Meeting
201. Demographically, the age of people in the county is old. What does this mean to driving patterns? Lee Public Meeting
202. The average size of households has decreased and residential locations have dispersed away from town centers and into more suburban and rural areas. Previously Identified
DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS
203. We have destroyed Rt. 7 corridor Lee Public Meeting
204. Is Berkshire County a destination or a corridor? If we plan for through traffic, we aren't a destination any more. Lee Public Meeting
205. Berkshire County is over saturated with retail but now we have outlets. Lee Public Meeting
206. Zoning is overly permissive and leads to sprawl. Lee Public Meeting
207. Highways are for strip developments, which lead to sprawl, which lead to need for by-pass, which leads to sprawl, etc. etc. We cannot reverse this trend, but can we reduce sprawl? Keep businesses in town Lee Public Meeting
208. Favor development in the cities rather than in outer areas Pittsfield Public Meeting
209. By "responding to problems," are we exacerbating problems (i.e., developing outside of town centers rather than preserving open space)? Pittsfield Public Meeting

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Environment

Comment Source
GENERAL
210. Widening roadways to safely accommodate bicycles or additional traffic impacts roadside features such as wetlands, trees, walls, and abutting property Previously Identified
211. Locate new development in areas served by appropriate transportation infrastructure Previously Identified
212. Minimize transportation impacts on neighborhoods Previously Identified
HISTORIC RESOURCES
213. Highway impacts on Shaker Village; day and night traffic; snow plowing; salt snow on buildings. Pittsfield Public Meeting
214. Historic preservation of buildings. Pittsfield Public Meeting
215. Move Route 20 away from Shaker Village property Pittsfield Public Meeting
216. Wetlands; historic buildings. Pittsfield Public Meeting
WETLANDS/NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
217. Wildlife/habitat are problems, or more like constraints. Lee Public Meeting
218. Kampoosa Bog wetland is a constraint to keep in mind. Lee Public Meeting
219. Wetlands; historic buildings. Pittsfield Public Meeting
220. Groundwater affected by pollution? Pittsfield Public Meeting
SCENIC
221. Keep Berkshire County beautiful Dalton Public Meeting
222. Beauty/environment are of paramount importance Lee Public Meeting
223. Preserve scenic quality of roadways and Berkshires. Pittsfield Public Meeting
224. Provide transportation appropriate to the scale of the Berkshires Previously Identified
225. Preserve scenic quality of roadways with access controls and land use management. Previously Identified
AIR AND NOISE
226. Congestion, noise, safety are problems on Route 20. Lee Public Meeting
227. Should try to help lower CO2 emissions, especially important because we are rural. Lee Public Meeting
228. Keep noise out of downtown West Stockbridge and Lee. Lee Public Meeting
229. I work in Lee. I attended the October 12th ceremony and couldn't hear it because of traffic. Lee Public Meeting
230. Trucks are destroying Lee. Lee Public Meeting
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
231. Cost of fuel and level of automobile use in the future Regional Study Committee

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Economics

Comment Source
GENERAL
232. Balance economy; keep tourism and farms; encourage industry Dalton Public Meeting
233. Employment opportunities/population decline; Change this trend Dalton Public Meeting
234. North County is very depressed as economy/ population decline. Lee Public Meeting
235. When you re-route traffic, what happens to commerce? Lee Public Meeting
236. Encourage small, individual businesses to come back to area. Lee Public Meeting
237. Lenox is starting to become a destination, since bypass was built. It took downtown Lenox 20 years to become a destination. Lee Public Meeting
238. Consider the economic future Lee Public Meeting
239. Transportation is responsible for economic problems. Ex. Sprague Electric Company moved. Lee Public Meeting
240. Transportation is criterion for locating companies North Adams Public Meeting
241. Provide air service to meet commercial needs. Previously Identified
242. Provide access to tourists destinations Previously Identified
243. Locate new development in areas served by appropriate transportation infrastructure Previously Identified
244. Employment has shifted from manufacturing centers to more dispersed retail and commercial centers. Previously Identified
SPRAWL
245. We have destroyed Rt. 7 corridor Lee Public Meeting
246. Connector road takes away from businesses in South County. A successful connector road example is Manchester, VT. Lee Public Meeting
247. County is over saturated with retail but now we have outlets. Lee Public Meeting
248. Zoning is overly permissive and leads to sprawl. Lee Public Meeting
249. Highways are for strip developments, which lead to sprawl, which lead to need for by-pass, which leads to sprawl, etc. We can't reverse the trend, but can we reduce sprawl? Keep business in town Lee Public Meeting
250. Favor development in the cities rather than in outer areas Pittsfield Public Meeting
251. One economic solution is redevelopment of Brownfields/General Electric (Pittsfield), although will mean more trucks. Pittsfield Public Meeting
252. By "responding to problems," are we exacerbating problems. i.e., developing outside of town centers instead of preserving open space? Pittsfield Public Meeting

LOSS OF INDUSTRIAL BASE
253. GE/Sprague-type industries will not happen here again Dalton Public Meeting
254. Something needed for North County. We're losing industry and population. Nothing for kids to come back to. Lee Public Meeting
255. Industry isn't coming back; we cannot control this. Lee Public Meeting

JOB MARKET/OPPORTUNITIES
256. Must travel to Boston or Albany for higher income. Pittsfield Public Meeting
257. Difficult to find jobs, raise families in County North Adams Public Meeting
258. Enough jobs to support people in this community? Pittsfield Public Meeting
259. Provide access to jobs. Previously Identified

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Tourism and Seasonal Demand

Comment Source
GENERAL
260. Clark Institute, Williamstown - 200,000 visitors/yr. North Adams Public Meeting
261. Most Shaker Village visitors come from areas within two hours, but visitors come from all over. Pittsfield Public Meeting
CONGESTION
262. Need to get tourists out of their cars and move them around better within towns. Lee Public Meeting
263. Traffic on Johnson Road in Becket; community swells to 9,000 people in summer Lee Public Meeting
264. Tourist congestion in Berkshires, especially in summer; an inconvenience to be put up with, but can it be alleviated? Lee Public Meeting
265. Village is wonderful ten months per year. Other two months, congestion. Lee Public Meeting
266. Delays at Lee toll plaza add to travel times, particularly during holidays/Tanglewood season. Previously Identified

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