Berkshire Bike Path Council Receives National Parks Service Grant
 

The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded the Berkshire Bike Path Council (BBPC) its 3rd Trails and Conservation Assistance grant.  Steven Golden, Program manager NPS Regional Office said "The Berkshire Bikeway has it all - strong partners, a vibrant vision and winning momentum".  We are delighted that Steve will be working with us over the next year.

 
BBPC plans to make use of the grant in its continued effort to develop a strong collaboration among the four South County (Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield) communities that are in the early stages of development.  Our specific goals include:
 
1.  Expanding the constituency of bike path advocates and interested citizens by:  

2.  Supporting efforts in all 4 communities to develop bike path/routes
3.  Collaborating on efforts to work with the Housatonic Railroad
4.  Conducting a symposium on Building Bikeways and Trails

 

 

At the next Quarterly Board meeting on Dec 2, BBPC will recognize Charles Tracy's work with us over the last 2 years.  As our NPS liaison, Charlie shared his expertise, experience, energy and commitment to building bike trails.  Charlie first worked with BBPC in 1999 when he helped organize BBPC and move the Ashuwillticook Trail forward.  Returning in 2008, he rejuvenated our efforts, kept us focused and helped us make great progress over the last two years.  Charlie has been reassigned to a major trail project in Connecticut.  We will miss him.  Join us Wed. Dec 2 to thank him and meet Steve Golden. (See calendar for details). 
 
National Park Service Reconsiders Reorganization Plan

 

At issue are the effects of a reorganization of NPS New England region as a result of the National Park's Rightsizing Implementation Plan. Under the plan, most operations would be moved to Philadelphia, the Boston-area staff would be cut from 107 to 45, and the office at 15 State St. in Boston would be closed.

 
BPPC has benefited and enjoyed working closely with the Boston NPS office as the recipients of Trails and Conservation Assistance Grants.  We advocated strongly keeping a New England regional presence.

Pittsfield Committee Makes Presence Felt
 

About 20 people, many wearing bike helmets, made their presence felt at the Pittsfield Gazette's Mayoral debate.  During the Berkshire Eagle's Mayoral debate for the final two candidates, the Council submitted a question concerning bike path progress within Pittsfield.  Both candidates said they supported bike paths.  After explaining Pittsfield's current bike path status, Mayor Ruberto stated "It's an interesting subject, would love to talk to you more about it sometime."  The Pittsfield Committee hopes to follow up with the recently reelected Mayor to get the bike path on the front burner for his 2010 agenda.

 
Mass Highway Responds to Rumble Strip Advocates

 

Shaun Weigand and Jim Cawse of Berkshire Cycle Association would like to thank everyone who wrote letters, sent emails and attended meetings. "We are very glad that Mass Highway officials  actually listened to our suggestions and, though not an ideal outcome, we are certainly satisfied that some very positive changes came out of the whole process. It shows that our efforts were not for nothing. Unfortunately, it should not take that amount of effort to have to try to change something after it has been done, but that is how Mass Highway does things. Hopefully both sides have learned from this experience and we can all be a bit more proactive with future projects."

Some positive changes, which can be seen on Route 8, include: