February          

Berkshire Bike Path Council                                                                                                    

February 2012 Update    

 

An impressive crowd attended the January Metropolitan Planning meeting, including Mayor Bianchi, Mayor Alcombright, State Representatives, Gail Cariddi, Tricia Farley Bouvier, Pittsfield City Counselor Christine Yon, Adams Selectman Skip Harrington, Town Planners from Pittsfield, Adams, and North Adams and many bike path advocates.   The MPO committee was impressed with the support shown and got the message that Berkshire County wants a bike path. Trail supporters were encouraged to see that bike paths could be a front burner issue.  But this will require continued advocacy as new funds will be harder to find.  That said, there is work that Towns and City can do now to position themselves for future funding. We would like to see Pittsfield continue to work with State and Federal officials and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to find funds to purchase the Housatonic Rail Road from Lanesboro to Merrill Rd. And we want to encourage North Adams to find the funds to complete their project.

 

Follow up meetings will be planed.  Advocacy for federal funding needs to continue (see article below) and letters to town officials thanking them for their support are encouraged.


Marge Cohan
Marge Cohan President, Berkshire Bike Path Council

News

BIKE PATH UPDATES

 

MPO selects North Adams Proposal
After what was described as civil discourse, the MPO voted (4 to 3) to recommend that North Adams receive $1.2m for their proposal to extend the trail from Lime Street to Hodges Cross Road in North Adams.  The 2 mile trail extension is estimated to cost $3.1m.  The town would only be awarded the money if they have the funds to complete the project through construction.  The original $2.3m allocation was reduced due to an override on the Adams extension to Lime Street where arsenic contamination was discovered resulting in an additional $1.1m being spent there.  

_________    

BERKSHIRE to BOSTON - Sept 19-23   

Ride across Massachusetts (240 miles, 50 -79 miles a day).  Event will kick off at Hancock Shaker Village and ride into Boston as part of the annual Hub on Wheels event.
Fee of $325 includes camping accommodations, 3 dinners, sag support, luggage transported and return transportation to the Berkshires.  Motel accommodations are available for additional fee.
For more info go to http://www.berkshirestoboston.com/.

 

LENOX PLANS BIKING EVENT 

JOHN EUSTICE OF SPARTA CYCLING, INC. is proposing the national cycling event proposed for May 6, 2012.  Two routes, 75 and 40 miles, will travel through 7 towns throughout Southern Berkshire County with the start and finish in Lenox.  Watch for more details.

 
ADVOCATE for Federal Funding NOW

Two amendments have been proposed to the Senate's transportation bill (MAP-21, or S. 1813) that would fix many of the problems relating to bike funding. Without these amendments, the three key sources of funding for biking and walking (Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and Recreational Trails Program) will no longer receive dedicated funding and will instead be forced to compete with many other programs for a smaller pot of money.  Many of our local bike path efforts have been supported by Recreational Trails funding.

We are asking you to:
Call and/or email your Senators TODAY, tell them why bicycling is important to you, and ask them to SUPPORT the Cardin-Cochran Amendment and the Klobuchar Amendment to MAP-21 (S. 1813).
Senator John Kerry: (202) 224-2742,  

Email: http://www.kerry.senate.gov/contact/

(select "Transportation" as Topic)

Senator Scott Brown: (202) 224-4543,  

Email: https://www.scottbrown.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

(select "Transportation" as Topic)

 

___________________

PHOTO OPS

     

Time to take them down and get to the bike shop!
To share your biking adventures email photos to info@berkshirebikepath.com

 

 

_________

Thank you for your continued support! 

Please support our efforts to advocate for better bicycling in Berkshire County. Mail your check, made out to Berkshire Bike Path Council, 55 South Mountain Rd, Pittsfield, MA  01201. Per IRS regulations, your donation to the Berkshire Bike Path Council will be treated similarly to a donation made to a 501(c)(3) organization and will be tax deductible.