On Nov 7, the Stockbridge Bike Committee presented their innovative design for a bike route through town.  The designated lanes will provide cyclists and drivers a safer way to co exist.  The selectmen were supportive and complimented the group on their impressive work.
 
The challenge now is to enlist the support of citizens at the town meeting on Nov 14, 7 PM at Town Hall.  This design is a model for other communities. The committee would welcome the support of cycling advocates.  
    
 

 The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area planned the second annual Western New England Greenway Conference from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on November 10, 2012 at the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont.  The Western New England Greenway (WNEG) is a proposed contiguous network of bike routes connecting New York City with Montreal. The WNEG runs from the East Coast Greenway in Norwalk, CT, connecting with Quebec's famed Route Verte at the Canadian border.  This year's conference includes updates from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, the impact of MAP 21 on state programs for bicycles and pedestrians, the benefits of multi-state trails, and Revolutionary War history along the WNEG route.  The conference concludes with a discussion on future goals for the WNEG.   There is no charge to attend the conference.  To register, please visit 2012 Western New England Conference web site.
 
 
 
The Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2013-2016 with funding for bike path design and construction spread across the Berkshires. All projects that use Federal funding must be approved in the TIP by regional representatives.   Non-motorized project highlights include:
 
Pittsfield's Ashuwillticook extension (Project # 606891) goes south from existing southern trailhead south to Crane Ave. This project converts the rail spur from the main CSX railroad to 10-ft wide paved bikepath  for 1.5 miles. The project connects the popular Ashuwillticook rail-trail to the City's Allendale commercial area.  The initial estimate for construction is $1,944,000.
 
Pittsfield is moving forward to scope the design of the extension from the existing Mall Road trail head south to Crane Ave. The City met with MassDOT to discuss project timing and funding.  The next step is to hire a design consultant and begin working through the route, property acquisition, and environmental impact.
 
Adams: A rail-trail extension (Project # 605041) begins at Hoosac Street (the north end of the existing trail) and end at Lime Street - a distance of approximately 1.2 miles. MassDOT would designed the project and will and oversee construction. The residents already use a portion of the route as a bike/ped connection from neighborhoods to the local middle school and parks.  Construction is anticipated in 2013.  $2,095,080

Adams to North Adams: The next northward Ashuwillticook Rail Trail extension, from Lime Street in Adams to Hodges Cross Road in North Adams is Project # 606890 -a distance of approximately 1.8 miles. The proposed route is off-road across undeveloped and agricultural land at an initial construction estimate of $3,033,437 in 2014.
Adams and North Adams have each contributed $50,000 for preliminary engineering.  They are in the process of speaking with abutters.

Williamstown portion of the Berkshire Bike Path is mostly proposed off-road and connects Route 7 (near Syndicate Rd) to Route 2 (near Galvin Rd), generally following the southern bank of the Hoosic River. The 10-ft wide paved path winds through open fields, some wetlands, and 'suburban' style development. $4,536,000 in construction funding in 2015 is combined with $701,000 of design funding in 2013.  Planning is still expected to begin in the beginning of 2013 along with updating the feasibility study for North Adams.

Lee will commence design in 2014 for the Lee bikeway, connecting Stockbridge along Route 102 northward to Lenox.  The design cost of $366,500 will be paid through a Scenic Byways grant.
 
The Williamstown-North Adams and Lee design projects should be under contract soon.  BRPC will focus on planning and environmental documentation while MassDOT and the local communities will select design consultants

The next several years are exciting for the Berkshires' first major bike path projects since the original Ashuwillticook Trail construction are funded and scheduled!  Keep track of projects by reading the BBPC monthly newsletter for updates.  The general link to MassDOT projects with project numbers can be accessed through the Berkshire Bike Path Council Main Page.