The North-Central Berkshire Access Study defines and evaluates a non-auto, or transit alternative for inclusion in the list of potential MIS alternatives. This document summarizes transit issues that have been identified for North-Central Berkshire county and a full range of potential solutions to address these issues.

• Limited Hours of Service (limited service on evenings, Sundays and holidays)
• Frequency of Service (Rail and Bus)
• Internal and External Access/Route Coverage/Ineffective Routing
• Efficiency of Transfer Points
• Need Discount Fares for Transit
• Inadequate/Undependable Rail Service
• Declining Ridership
• Funding

The overall intent of the transit alternative is to identify cost-effective transit measures that will address the goals of the MIS study, that is, improved mobility/access and reduced automobile congestion throughout the county. Table 1 (attached) summarizes a full range of potential transit measures that could be considered.

1. New Transit Facilities
1. Light Rail - Low or High Speed Rail Service
2. Intermodal Transportation Center (already planned)
2. Transit Route Improvements
1. Transit Service Expansion to Activity Centers/Additional Feeder Routes (eg., Intermittent Rural Service)
2. More Efficient Route Structure (eg., Combine Specific Existing Routes; Decrease Frequency or Discontinue Outlying Underutilized Routes and Replace with On-Call Demand-Based Service)
3. Innovative Routing (eg., Route Deviation or Point Deviation)
4. Express Bus Service (Internal, Route 1) During Commuter Peaks
5. Enhanced Inter-city Bus Service (Increase Frequency or Provide Express Service for External Routes, eg., Pittsfield to Boston and/or NYC)
6. Seasonal Shuttles (Summer Season; Winter Holiday Season; Tanglewood)
3. Transit Schedule Improvements
1. Increase Frequency of Existing Service (System-wide)
2. Increase Frequency During Peak Periods
3. Extend the Hours of Transit Service to Include Evenings, Sundays, and/or Holidays
4. Schedule Adjustments to Serve Route-Specific Demand (Schedule Expansions and Increased Frequency for Targeted Routes)
5. Expand On-Call Demand/Response Paratransit Service (Non-Fixed Route Transit Service) to Serve General Demand
4. Transit Fare Improvements
1. Free Transit Service (System-wide)
2. Free Transit Service in the CBD
3. Reduced Transit Fares (System-Wide or During Off-Peak Hours)
4. Restructure Transit Fare Zone System or Eliminate Fare Zone System
5. Park-and-Ride Improvements
1. Park-and-Ride Lots at Fringe and Transportation Corridor Parking Areas
2. Shuttle Transit Services from Fringe Parking Areas to CBD or Activity Centers
3. Carpool/Ridesharing programs
6. Other Transit Measures
1. Real Time Monitoring and Control (AVL) and Traveler Information (ITS Solutions)
2. Bus Priority at Traffic Signals
3. Special Turning Lanes or Exemption of Buses from Turning Restrictions
4. Provision of Bus Shelters
5. Bikes on Buses (already implemented)
6. Improved Marketing for Transit Modes