Table of Contents - Revised March 9, 2000

Problem Statement: Although Route 20 is an east-west state route, it serves the majority of north-south Berkshire County traffic through downtown Lee. Main Street in Lee experiences significant impacts due to congestion and noise from regional automobile, bus, and truck traffic. Since access to Exit 1 in West Stockbridge is limited from Pittsfield and northern Berkshire County, and no Turnpike access is provided for New York traffic, Exit 2 serves as the primary access point for Turnpike traffic from North-Central Berkshire County. At the Exit 2 ramps, congestion occurs during peak traffic periods, especially during the summer. In West Stockbridge, traffic volumes have been increasing in the village, primarily due to through traffic traveling from Exit B3 in New York and Route 102.

Problem Statement: Downtown Pittsfield is a source of delay for through traffic on regional north-south routes (Route 7, Route 8, Route 7/20) and east-west routes (Route 20, Route 8/9). In order to pass through Pittsfield, regional through traffic is required to mix with local traffic on the downtown street system, which results in congestion and delay. Furthermore, the street configuration in the downtown requires that east-west traffic on Route 20 must also travel on existing north-south segments of Route 8/9. Traffic improvements over the past 30 years have focused on localized and independent arterial improvements, not a coordinated, systemwide approach to handling regional and local traffic demand in the Downtown. Growing congestion in Pittsfield and along Route 7/20 in Lenox and Route 20 in downtown Lee has limited access to the Turnpike for residents in towns north of Pittsfield.

Problem Statement: Northern Berkshire County is served primarily by two-lane rural state roads that provide connections to Pittsfield to the south and Greenfield to the east. Congested routes in Central Berkshire County restrict access to the interstate highway system. Slowing moving truck traffic is a significant source of delay for motorists along Route 8 between North Adams and Pittsfield. Town centers along Route 8 also suffer the impacts of through traffic, especially trucks, which detract from the rural character of Berkshire County.