To the editor:
Everyone loves Great Barrington, but finding a place to park can oftentimes be a challenge. Additionally, traffic congestion has steadily been on the upswing. Sometimes you’ll need to plan for a delay of up to 30 minutes in order to reach your destination on time.
It has been in the news that the town of Great Barrington is entertaining the idea of bringing back the horse racing business to the fairgrounds. Horse racing at the fairgrounds will dramatically increase traffic congestion at the southern end of Great Barrington, where Guido’s, Big Y, the Great Barrington Bagel Company, the Mobil gas station, Aubuchon Hardware and a number of other stores reside. Horse racing events will make it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach accident victims or others in need of emergency services. Additionally, it’s likely going to be a nightmare for shoppers attempting to enter jammed up Route 7 when horse racing events occur.
We need to repair the bridges in Great Barrington that have been closed due to structural failures BEFORE we consider any roadwork enhancements to service a horse racing business.
Collin Lovas
Stockbridge