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Residents urge sidewalks, crosswalk upgrades and school outreach as BRPC shows dangerous corridors
Summary
At BRPC’s Safety Action Plan presentation residents pressed for sidewalks and a controlled crosswalk near MCLA, cited a fatality hotspot on Government Drive/College Way, and recommended pedestrian education; presenters said the corridors are on the High Injury Network and encouraged written comments and collaboration with Pittsfield.
During the BRPC presentation a series of public comments focused on local sidewalk gaps, a campus crosswalk near MCLA and the role of education in pedestrian safety. A resident who identified herself as a longtime pedestrian described seeing unsafe behavior and urged education and outreach for children, saying the public should ‘‘take some responsibility into your own hand’’ and that school programs could teach safer walking habits.
Multiple attendees asked whether the draft plan would address a sidewalk gap between Columbus Avenue and West Street (a College Way/bridge area). Presenters confirmed that the dashboard highlights that corridor as a hot spot and that BRPC is coordinating with the city of Pittsfield; the team said the bridge structures and nearby infrastructure aging mean the city will need to evaluate replacement or redesign options that could include sidewalks or a rethought corridor layout.
William G., a student at MCLA whose comment was read during the meeting, described a near‑miss at the crosswalk between the main campus and Berkshire Towers and suggested converting the existing flashing crosswalk to a hybrid beacon to control the crossing. Beta Group staff said the HIN and the interactive map will be updated as new crash data arrives and that specific site‑level countermeasures such as hybrid beacons are listed in the countermeasures toolbox.
Presenters accepted behavioral and education suggestions as part of the ‘‘safer people’’ recommendations and said BRPC will pursue partnerships with school programs such as Safe Routes to School. BRPC reiterated that public comments (sticky notes, online form) submitted by Dec. 2 will be incorporated in the plan appendix where possible, and that the final plan will be issued mid‑December ahead of MPO consideration in January 2025.
