Regional Study Committee (RSC) Meeting #13
Berkshire Transportation Forum (BTF) Meeting #4
7:00 p.m. March 9, 1999
Pittsfield City Council Chambers, City Hall
See last page for list of participants

1. Welcome
   

   BTF Moderator Robert Liston opened the meeting. BRTA Assistant Administrator Dianne Smith welcomed participants.

2. Review of Minutes of RSC Meeting #12 (December 9, 1999) & BTF Meeting #3 (September 23, 1999)
   BRPC Senior Planner Zoe Neaderland reviewed the notes from the RSC and BTF. There were no significant changes requested. The last BTF meeting had been a joint meeting of the BTF & RSC.

3. Alternative Solutions Development Process, including Area Problem Statements
   Rizzo Associates Senior Project Manager Ed Gardiner presented the draft Transportation Access Improvement Solutions and Alternatives. This included two handouts. The first was titled "Table of Contents" covering the various possible alternatives and including problem statements for each of the three parts of the study area. The second was a thick package with a page describing each possible alternative or potential component of an alternative.

4. Open Discussion
   

   Questions of Clarification
   1. What is grade separation (from existing signalized intersections on routes 7/20, alternative S-B3)? (Grade separation is having another road go over or under the through road.)
   2. Please explain the Route 8/Becket interchange idea. (Route 8 improvements would be needed for this alternative to compete time-wise with travelling on routes 7 & 20)
   3. Route 8 makes sense, but that's a major watershed area. How will that be impacted? (It will be taken into consideration)
   4. What would an upgrade mean, for example of Route 41 or Swamp Road mean? (Ed Gardiner: An upgrade would improve safety, for example by correcting where sight distances are limited. It wouldn't necessarily increase capacity)
   5. Errors and corrections were noted on pages 14 & 15
   6. There was some discussion of the East Housatonic Street Alternative (C-B3). It does not propose to take Harry's Supermarket. It was proposed that traffic might cross from East Housatonic Street to Gordon Street to connect to East Street and then the upgraded Merrill Road.
   7. How much land at the new interchange will be available for industrial development?
   Further Discussion of Problems
   1. Just the intersection of South & Housatonic streets in Pittsfield adds 10-15 minutes per trip by truck.
   2. We're talking about solutions even though we haven't fully quantified problems. Parking is called a problem in Lee, but has it been studied whether this is just a seasonal problem? Previous studies, public participation, and quantification of problems need to be further incorporated. Another person also stated that problems need to be quantified to determine which are more important than others
   3. Elder Services case workers have trouble getting around to serve elders as things are now.
   4. There are 33 traffic lights going by numbered routes from South Pittsfield to the Berkshire Mall. That is too many and they aren't timed well. Just having a blinking light at Williamstown's 5 Corners works fine. [note: after the meeting MassHighway-District 1 Planning Liaison Rich Masse checked and found that there are actually 28 lights travelling from Dan Fox Drive to the Berkshire Mall South Drive. He expressed appreciation, however, that the participant opened consideration of things that might be taken away, such as unnecessary traffic lights, to balance the many suggestions of what could be added.]
   Recommendations
   1. There should be even further limiting of access along routes 7 & 20 in the vicinity of Walker and Plunkett streets to move traffic through and increase safety
   2. There should be a full interchange at Exit 1 in West Stockbridge. Another person said the Exit 1 interchange already has all the negative impacts but only half the use as it is now.
   3. Studies show building new roads can lead to more traffic; prioritize the alternatives and proceed with action step by step after seeing if more is needed
   4. Use existing roadways better or more. Another participant added that there are parts of Route 7 North of Pittsfield where it looks safe to pass but there's a double yellow line. (Ed Gardiner: That is a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) type solution but too detailed to include here; MassHighway District 1 Director Ross Dindio: It may look safe, but if MassHighway changes it to allow passing and there's an accident it would be a major problem)
   5. At Hancock Shaker Village 7,500 pedestrians cross Route 20. It wouldn't be easy but might work to connect to Pittsfield along new route. (Ross Dindio: A pedestrian overpass could also be considered)
   6. Since there are no tolls on the first 6 exits on the Mass Turnpike coming from NY, remove the first toll booth area on the Pike before the West Stockbridge exit.
   7. Gas will be more expensive in 15 years and we shouldn't be putting all our transportation eggs in one basket. How about increased rail to Boston or Albany. Another participant was concerned about impacts from more cars and faster speeds and recommended taking a serious look at buses, trains, etc.
   8. Are you really looking at neighborhood impacts? The Lee alternatives box residents in so bad we won't be able to move around.
   9. Build at a human scale and plant in a natural manner. Don't blast away at the landscape to build a straight line. Dan Fox Drive is an example of not following these recommendations. It was not a good solution.
   10. Route 41 is Richmond's Main Street with the school and post office. It should not have more traffic.
   Questions & Comments on the Process
   1. I was a participant in this game in 1995. Why are we playing it again?! (Ross Dindio: This study is a result of the previous study. The previous study was unable to reach consensus but had some large-scale recommendations. Regulations require a Major Investment Study (MIS) with extensive public participation for any large transportation project.)
   2. Isn't this all a charade and you've already decided what to do? They are surveying at McNerney Road in Becket at the Otis border? (Ross Dindio replied that there are no predetermined answers to the Access Study and the surveying along McNerney Road is for work requested by the town.)
   3. How do you weight the importance of saving time? Another participant said fifteen minutes faster is not equal to one family's home. How will these decisions be made? (Zoe Neaderland: A Community Values Survey is underway to provide information on how criteria are valued by a representative sample of Berkshire residents)
   4. Lee does not want another interchange. Are you going to ram a solution down our throats? (Ross Dindio: No, if the committee says do nothing, we'll do nothing)
   5. How do we get some of the money lost to the Big Dig shifted to the Berkshires? (Ross Dindio: I think it would be wrong to set a dollar value for what can come out of the Access Study)
   6. There was discussion about the purpose of the Access Study which included:
      • Everyone needs to make a living; there should be roads to everyone's business and why is it taking so long? This is about Berkshire County, not just Pittsfield or Lenox.
      • Businesses should be in places zoned for them and not require roads through residential areas
      • We need better links to the East & West outside world so people can commute to jobs.
      • I'm a merchant and naturally want more traffic. Isn't the whole purpose to increase access so North and Central Berkshire can participate in the economic growth of South County? Why would the State invest in Mass MoCA if people can't get there?
      • I thought this Study was about better links to the Mass Turnpike? (Ed Gardiner: That is one component. BRPC Executive Director Nat Karns: The focus is access. Part of that is with the outside world in general, not just the Pike.)

5. Next Steps
   Ed Gardiner clarified during the discussion that just because an alternative is on the maps shown at this meeting does not mean it will be in the short list of alternatives for further consideration. Ranking of alternatives is coming and will be based on the traffic model. There will be a TSM alternative. MassHighway Project Manager Diane Madden closed the meeting with the reminder that there is a process in place to screen first by gross benefits and impacts which will result in a short list. The next meeting will be the second Thursday in May, the 9th.

Regional Study Committee #13 & Berkshire Transportation Forum Meeting #4
7 - 9 p.m. March 9, 1999
Pittsfield City Council Chambers, City Hall