Pittsfield Council OKs Acquisitions for Road Improvements Near BMCBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:32PM / Wednesday, August 23, 2023 | |
 The area of the proposed roundabout outside Berkshire Medical Center on the north end of North Street. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council OKed multiple orders for a state project last week to improve the vehicle and pedestrian ways near Berkshire Medical Center.
The state Department of Transportation is planning an overhaul of the corridor that includes the conversion of North Street between Tyler Street and Stoddard Avenue into one-way southbound traffic, a roundabout, bike lanes and shared-use paths, and new sidewalks.
Five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street were approved. The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding.
The five orders are:
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City layout alterations and permanent taking by eminent domain of 16 parcels in connection with the intersection and signal at North and First Streets.
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Taking by eminent domain one permanent drainage easement in connection with the intersection and signal improvements at First and North Streets.
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Taking by eminent domain one permanent highway easement in connection with the intersection and signal improvements at First and North Streets.
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Taking by eminent domain two permanent easements in connection with the intersection and signal improvements at First and North Streets.
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Taking by eminent domain 24 permanent public utility easements in connection with the intersection improvements at First and North Streets.
Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales explained that the project is being paid for by the state Transportation Improvement Plan and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.
MassDOT estimates that the contract will cost around $9 million.
Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi abstained from all but the first order but recognized the significance of the project.
"I think we all agree that we would like to have easier access to Berkshire Health's main campus," she said.
"I mean, that intersection is a little bit confusing. In case of an emergency, you want your loved ones to get where they need to be quickly, especially if they're not in any ambulance."
Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren would like to see an alternative funding source to the Chapter 90 funds.
"I think we should come up with the monies elsewhere. I don't want to take Chapter 90 monies that should be being used for the roads," he said.
"As a matter of fact, the City Council and the mayor and the public were all part of a compact where we talked about doing $6 million plus for the roads and taking this money for this project from the city roads that the residents should be getting on other roads, I think there are other places we can find that money but I'm not expecting you to do that."
Morales explained that the appraisals came in higher than expected and the city was able to absorb that cost from Chapter 90 funds left over from prior years. There is a tight schedule to get the bidding done in the fall.
"We saw that it would be a good opportunity to use those funds and move the project forward," he said.
Warren would also like to see more of a partnership between BMC and the city and hopes that an agreement could be worked out where the easement monies that they are receiving can be put to good use rather than going to the company.
"I agree and we have discussions with them. Your vote is to authorize that to occur," Morales explained.
"It is our due diligence under the law that we do this whether they accept that amount or they donate or they accept any amount lower or they donate. That still could happen."
Two of the property owners have reported to the city that they may appeal the amount offered by a certified appraiser.
Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick expressed concern about this, explaining that he doesn't doubt that the city followed the right process but he has more questions on the situation.
"My understanding in a lot of these road things is the landowners are not upset about the taking per se," Warren said.
"Everybody has the value of what their property is whether it be land, their car, whatever, there's always a dispute and there's a procedure that the people can follow through to get the money that they feel they're entitled to."
He pointed out that this intersection is one of the many in Pittsfield that need to be addressed.
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