Accessible Path Planned for Pittsfield's Westside
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several partners are working to connect the top of Francis Avenue to vital resources downtown.
A new pedestrian path, green space, and stormwater improvements are planned to replace the corridor's existing stairs, which are inaccessible for mobility devices and in disrepair. The Pittsfield Housing Authority, at its Sept. 16 meeting, received an update on the project to make the space more usable and reduce travel time to the Big Y area.
"This represents a lot of work and a lot of thought," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds said.
Planning has been ongoing for years to create a zig-zag, paved path down the hill to College Way; several designs came before. Other pedestrian and traffic improvements are ongoing in that area. Project Partners include the PHA, Pittsfield, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Westside Legends, and more.
Community members identified this parcel for renovation during the Grey to Green process, which prioritizes green planning in a social and racial justice context.
The stairwell was described as disrepaired, unsafe, and inaccessible. Community members trying to access Big Y or other businesses along West Street said it was falling apart because of stormwater and flooding, and the stairs cannot be used by people with wheelchairs, strollers, or carts.
"And so we were asked to solve the stormwater, fix the stairwell, and create just a more beautiful space up there through our design dollars," said Courteny Morehouse, principal planner with BRPC.
"We partnered with the city, and so we're going to show you sort of four years of iterative designs that we've come up with to make that space more usable and cut down on the travel time from this spot here to the Big Y area."
The team hopes to move forward with construction documents and planning for this design.
PHA plans to dispose of a small piece of unbuildable property next to the Francis Avenue staircase, joining it with City of Pittsfield property for the accessible path.
While there is a second phase for the lower section, this project is between Francis Avenue and College Way. This is part of a larger effort to consider an accessible route that crosses College Way to Big Y.
Pittsfield received a $1.6 million planning grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to study the deconstruction of urban renewal from the West Side to the downtown.
This is a long-term project to rework the area of Government Drive, College Way, and Center Street, which has on-off ramps created for future connections to the highway that never was. This area was overhauled in the 1970s as part of urban renewal efforts.
Tags: accessibility, pedestrians,
