Hinds to participate in Town Hall-style meeting
Sheffield — The Sheffield Democratic Committee will sponsor a meeting with Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, and Berkshires residents Monday, March 5, at 6 p.m. at the Bushnell-Sage Library. This will be the first in a series of events featuring elected officials and activists in the Berkshires.
Elected to the state Senate in 2016, Hinds was recently appointed as a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which addresses all financial issues in the state government. He is also chairman of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, which generates bills related to the third-largest industry in the Berkshires and the state. As vice chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technology, Hinds has advocated for the expansion of high-speed broadband service in western Massachusetts. Hinds also formed a working group of legislators to consider the pros and cons of establishing direct seasonal rail service between the Berkshires and New York City via the Hudson Valley and Pittsfield.
The Sheffield Democratic Committee urges all Berkshires residents, regardless of their political affiliations, to take advantage of the opportunity to meet Hinds in person and discuss issues facing Massachusetts and the nation. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Ben Hillman at (413) 229-3448 or ben@benhillman.com.
* * *
Baker-Polito administration announces $5.5 million in Complete Streets funding awards
Boston — The Baker-Polito administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Tuesday announced awards totaling $5.5 million to 23 communities through the Complete Streets Funding Program. The awards will be used to fund local, multi-modal infrastructure improvement projects, as identified in each municipality’s submitted Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.
A “Complete Street” is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes and for all people, taking into account the ages and abilities of individuals. The Baker-Polito administration has now awarded a total of approximately $23.2 million since creating a funding program for Complete Streets in February 2016. Since the launch of the Complete Streets Funding Program, 148 municipalities have approved policies and 90 have approved Prioritization Plans. Examples of projects that can be addressed through the program include improved street lighting, radar speed signage, intersection signalization, new multimodal paths and new signals at crosswalks.
The Complete Streets program will provide funding to the following Berkshire communities:
Clarksburg will receive $77,902 to improve Middle Road for cyclists by creating a four-foot shoulder with new pavement markings and bicycle markings symbols. This work represents this first of a four-phased effort to reconstruct Middle Road to more safely accommodate cyclists and pedestrians from the North Adams town line northward to the River Road (Route 8) intersection.
Lenox will receive $323,986 to improve the intersection of Old Stockbridge Road, West Street, Main Street and Walker Street. Improvements being made at this location will include narrowing the travel lanes, installing new sidewalks, curb extension and ramps, and putting a crosswalk in place. The funds will also allow pedestrian and safety improvements to be made at three locations along Main Street.
Sandisfield will receive $50,750 to install two solar-powered speed feedback signs on Route 183 and on Route 57 in order to calm traffic and improve the walking or bicycling environment. The funds will also enable the town to install bicycle amenities at the library and playground, as well as bicycle parking at the Town Hall Annex, Old Town Hall and Wilber Park.
