Great Barrington — In a Tuesday, October 11 press release, the town announced that it had been awarded $62,500 from the state to improve accessibility at bus stop locations. The funds are from the Department of Transportation’s Shared Street and Spaces program.
The program covers costs related to general bus stop enhancements and improvements for disabled passengers.
Via email, Assistant Town Manager Christopher Rembold told The Berkshire Edge that there are 32 Berkshire Regional Transit Authority bus stops throughout town. Rembold wrote that the improvements will not be installed at all bus stop locations because “each stop’s characteristics and needs are a little different.” Rembold explained, “Some stops might need accessible ramps, signage, lighting, benches, shelters, or all of the above.”
As for planned improvements at bus stops for passengers with disabilities, Rembold wrote, “Where curbs or slopes or other obstacles make it difficult for a passenger to get from the stop onto the bus, or off the bus onto the sidewalk, the bus stop would be improved with accessible routes from the waiting area to the bus boarding area.”
Rembold explained, “We will coordinate the signs and route information with BRTA to ensure the signs are standardized and have the most current route maps and timetables … In addition to accessibility for passengers, some stops may require lighting enhancements and solar lighting can be used, for example.”
While work is expected to start next year, no timetable has been set. “We’ll begin our work by coordinating with Transportation Advisory Committee volunteers and with BRTA to determine the improvements needed at each stop,” Rembold wrote via email. “We may first implement a pilot program by testing improvements at selected stops. When we’ve finalized the designs we will implement the project. Some improvements can be done by the town, and others in cooperation with BRTA.”
