To: Diane Madden, Project Manager
Massachusetts Highway Department

Fr: Edward T. Gardiner, P.E.
Rizzo Associates, Inc.

Re: Phase One Technical Memorandum
Problem and Goal Identification

Dt: June 23, 2000

Transportation access problems, goals, issues, and concerns were compiled by the TSC between December 1998 and July 1999. This phase of work consisted of three major tasks.

Task 5: Prepare a List of Previously Identified Transportation Access Problems and Goals. The TSC prepared a list of previously identified transportation access problems to provide a starting point for public discussion. The bibliography of reports and historical information is presented as Attachment I.

Task 6: Identify Additional Transportation Access Problems and Goals. Additional access problems were identified through extensive interaction with the public. This interaction with the public was useful in defining community goals related to transportation including economic development, land use, and environmental issues.

Task 7: Prepare a Comprehensive Transportation Access Problems List. The TSC compiled a list of 266 problems, goals, issues and concerns. The list was organized into ten general topics: 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, and tourism/seasonal demand. The complete list is presented as Attachment II.

Between December 1998 and June 1999, problem and goal identification was discussed at eight TSC meetings. TSC meetings associated with Phase One were held on the following dates:

The public played a key role in the identification of problems, goals, issues, and concerns. The TSC solicited input on the problem list at seven RSC and one BTF meeting. In addition, the TSC held a series of four Public Information Meetings (PIMs) in Dalton, Lee, North Adams, and Pittsfield to ensure that residents throughout the study area had an opportunity to participate in the problem and goal identification process. Appendix B and Appendix C present the RSC and BTF meeting minutes, respectively. Appendix D presents the PIM minutes. A summary of public meetings follows:

On February 5, 1999 more than ___ Berkshire residents on the RSC and BTF mailing lists were notified of four upcoming PIMs:

The agenda for each meeting was the same - to solicit community input on transportation access problems in the County. The meetings typically focused on issues of concern in each of the four subregions, thereby ensuring a wide range of public input in the study.

April 8, 1999 - Regional Study Committee Meeting. An RSC meeting was held at the Berkshire Athenaeum from 6:50 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. to introduce the proposed categories of problems, goals, issues and invite initial public comment. The press received a faxed meeting notice and legal advertisements were noticed in the Berkshire Eagle three days prior to the meeting. There were 18 public attendees.

May 13, 1999 - Regional Study Committee Meeting. An RSC meeting was held at Taconic High School in Pittsfield from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The entire meeting focused on problem and goal identification, specifically the environmental, quality of life, and economic aspects of transportation. The press received a faxed meeting notice and legal advertisements were noticed in the Berkshire Eagle three days prior to the meeting. There were 11 public attendees.

June 10,1999 - Regional Study Committee Meeting. An RSC meeting was held at the Pittsfield High School library from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to discuss access problems and goals and to review to review traffic accident data from 1990 - 1997. The press received a faxed meeting notice and legal advertisements were noticed in the Berkshire Eagle three days prior to the meeting. There were 15 public attendees.

July 15, 1999 - Regional Study Committee Meeting. An RSC meeting was held from 6:50 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum to discuss the problem statements and explain how they would be incorporated into the evaluation criteria. The press received a faxed meeting notice and legal advertisements were noticed in the Berkshire Eagle three days prior to the meeting. There were 16 public attendees.

August 12, 1999 - Berkshire Transportation Forum. A BTF meeting was held at 7:30 p.m. in the Berkshire Athenaeum to discuss the problem and goal identification process and to review the input garnered at the four PIMs held in Dalton, Lee, Pittsfield, and North Adams. The press received a faxed meeting notice and legal advertisements were noticed in the Berkshire Eagle three days prior to the meeting. There were ___ public attendees.

December 9, 1999 - Regional Study Committee Meeting. An RSC meeting was held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Lenox Town Hall Auditorium. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the correlation of model output with the problem statements and to explain the next steps of the Study, in particular the development and evaluation of alternatives. The press received a faxed meeting notice and legal advertisements were noticed in the Berkshire Eagle three days prior to the meeting. There were nine public attendees.

1. Bibliography of Available Resources/Historical Reports
2. List of Problems, Goals, Issues and Concerns