West Street Safety Improvements Starting Soon
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Streetscape improvements are set to begin on West Street soon.
On Thursday, the city notified residents that the project will kick off on Aug. 11. Running between Backman Avenue and College Way, it implements safety measures for pedestrians and motorists on a street that saw two fatalities in 2023.
"The Department of Public Services and Utilities held several community meetings on this proposed project during 2023 and 2024 and adjusted their proposed plans based upon input received at these meetings," a City of Pittsfield Facebook post explained.
The $2.1 million project includes lighting improvements, sidewalk improvements and raised crosswalks, Rapid Flashing Beacons at key crosswalks, a traffic signal at the intersection, repaving and adjusted lanes, and bicycle accommodations.
The area will have two 11-foot travel lanes, a 10-foot turning lane, and a five-foot bike lane.
West Street is described as a "key connector in Pittsfield and serves a mix of residential, school, and commercial areas." Still, over the years, vehicle speeds, inaccessible and deteriorating infrastructure, and traffic congestion at the West Street intersection have been of concern.
In January 2023, Shaloon Milord was struck and killed while crossing in front of Dorothy Amos Park, and in October 2023, Shane Cassavant was struck and killed farther up the street while doing roadwork.
"In 2023, a tragic crash claimed the life of a woman as she was crossing the street with her daughter. This heartbreaking incident, combined with ongoing community concerns, highlighted the urgent need to make West Street safer for vulnerable road users," the city's website explained.
"This project directly addresses these concerns to create a safer, more accessible, and more vibrant corridor for all road users, especially vulnerable users like pedestrians, cyclists, and children traveling to nearby schools."
Last year, the city received a $235,000 boost from the state's Shared Streets and Spaces Program for the effort, and the City Council has authorized a $2 million capital borrowing for the streetscape improvements on the corridor.
After a few iterations, the updated design reduces the footprint and adds a signal at the intersection of lower and upper West Street.
Planners said there wasn't another change that would improve pedestrian safety without sacrificing vehicle travel time. A traffic study showed that going from a single stop sign coming from lower West Street to a signalized intersection raised the intersection's grade classification by several points.
Tags: road safety,
