Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program

The City of Pittsfield has been awarded a grant from the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program. Please see the details below...

City of Pittsfield - Department of Public Services & Utilities

September 25, 2020

About the Grant

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces quick-launch/quick-build grant program will provide grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $300,000 for cities and towns to quickly implement or expand improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce in their communities.

The City of Pittsfield has been awarded $238,826 for projects associated with enhanced mobility and placemaking.

Enhanced Mobility Components

Project to enhance mobility will focus on these principles in general:

• Pavement space used for car travel will be reallocated to more diverse uses.

• Those who use different forms of mobility to access essential services and jobs are especially susceptible to the spread of Coronavirus.

• Road space will be reallocated with “quick-build” elements such as barriers, cones, temporary signage and landscaping. They will be evaluated for permanent construction on a case-by-case basis.

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M1: Lower North – Complete Street Demonstration

What: Reallocate parking and travel space for protected bike lane and cafe seating, from Park Square to Fenn Street

Why: Heavy restaurant and entertainment usage, with four operating restaurants, mixed-use buildings, and movie theater. Fast-moving traffic approaching Park Square creates a higher level of noise and traffic stress for foot traffic and outdoor seating.

Materials: Flex-posts, paint, signage, bike racks

Estimated Cost: $10,000

M2: Center Street – Shared Use Curb Lanes

What: Repurpose one curb lane on Center Street to create a wider shared-use travel route for pedestrians and bicyclists. From Depot to Columbus Ave., the Southbound curb lane will be converted, and from Depot to Church Street, the southbound curb lane will be converted. This component connects with project M5 (Government Ramp).

Why: There is currently a sidewalk only on the northbound-side of Center Street. Getting to services on West St requires using a 90’ crosswalk at a busy intersection and then doubling back across an onramp-style junction to continue traveling south. Pedestrians must cross four lanes of high-speed traffic again at the intersection of Depot Street to return to the southbound side of the road. At least one pedestrian fatality has occurred. This road borders the Westside neighborhood, a historically disadvantaged and diverse area.

Materials: Flex posts, signage

Estimated Cost: $10,000

M3: Allen Street and School Street – One-way Street Conversion

What: Convert to one-way street running southbound (Allen) and reverse one-way to eastbound (School) and consider contra-flow bike lane

Why: Create a full loop for one-way access to the police station and Allen Street. By converting to one-way travel, parking can be permitted on both sides of the street, which currently isn't possible with two-way traffic. Expanded police parking would help to clear the vehicle crowding on School Street.

Materials: Flex posts, signage, paint

Estimated Cost: $10,000

M4: Upper North – Protected Bike Lanes

What: Protected bike lane demonstrations, from Maplewood Avenue to Wahconah Street

Why: Low on-street parking usage presents an opportunity to demonstrate a protected bike lane

Materials: Flex posts, paint, signage, bike racks

Estimated Cost: $19,000

M5: Government Ramp – Roadway Closure to Convert to Path

What: Closure of ramp to vehicles, repurposed as a space for people walking and cycling. Connection to the Center Street component (M2), plus a crossing provided at Dewey Ave. Lighting will also be installed on the stairway to Francis Ave., which is the most frequented route to this area.

Why: Pedestrians are frequently seen using these ramp-style connections as the shortest route between the west side of Pittsfield and downtown.

Materials: Paint, signage, cones, solar lighting

Estimated Cost: $5,000

M6: Columbus – Bidirectional Cycle Track Pilot

What: Two-way cycle track pilot, from Center Street to North Street, connecting to BRTA terminal

Why: Encourage bike-to-bus connection from surrounding neighborhoods

Materials: Flex-posts, paint, signage, bike racks

Estimated Cost: $6,000

M7: Linden/North – Protected Intersection

What: Protected intersection demonstration at Linden / North

Why: Higher than average car crash location; would dovetail into protected bike lane demonstration (M4)

Materials: Paint, flex-posts, bike racks

Estimated Cost: $8,000

M8: Bradford – Bidirectional Cycle Track Pilot

What: Two-way cycle track pilot, from Center Street to North Street

Why: Enhance and encourage cycling from the Westside neighborhood and downtown; create a distinct connection to new Westside Riverway Park

Materials: Flex-posts, signage, paint, bike racks

Estimated Cost: $6,000

Placemaking Components

Components that support this goal focus on these principles in general:

• As building capacities are still reduced and customers may feel more comfortable outdoors, additional space should be set aside to permit dining and vending

• Drawing foot traffic and creating focal points that encourage engagement with the street also helps to support businesses located downtown

• Landscaping, art, lighting, and shade provide enclosure to help make spaces more inviting.

• The projects will generally be built with an “interim” timeline in mind, and can be removed and replaced seasonally.

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P1: Bank Row - Plaza

What: Push parking away from the curb into unused brick space. Use the opened area for outdoor dining and commerce. Convert parking to back-in angled parking to improve safety for motorists pulling out.

Why: There is currently unused space behind parked vehicles on the brick surface, that serves neither as parking nor travel space. The area could be reallocated by moving the parking closer to the travel lanes, and using the newly opened space for outdoor seating or vending

Materials: Planters, rubber curb stops, signage, tables, shade umbrellas, bike repair station, bike racks, decorative lighting

Estimated Cost: $14,000

P2: Market Street - Parklet

What: Create outdoor seating, gathering and plaza space along with enhancing pedestrian connection. Alley is an unaccepted street, and an understanding would need to be reached with the abutting owner.Fire standpipe to be kept clear.

Why: This alleyway connects North Street and McKay Street, and could also be used as outdoor seating and commerce space by nearby restaurants and the local general store

Materials: Planters, tables, shade umbrellas, decorative lighting.

Estimated Cost: $7,000

P3: First St Lot – Plaza

What: Convert a small number of municipal parking lot spaces near Fenn St into outdoor seating/plaza

Why: This parking area is immediately adjacent or nearby to four eating establishments and could be shared as an outdoor dining option between them

Materials: Planters, cones. Tables and chairs supplied by restaurants

Estimated Cost: $4,000

P4: Melville St – Woonerf Play Street

What: Play street; woonerf-style installation

Why: This side street is lined with frontages to the city YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, and CYC (Catholic Youth Center). It also leads to the Islamic Cultural Center one block further east. It is in a prime position to become a “play street” with interactive elements and traffic calming features such as chicanes and chokers. Potential for public art on newly paved street surface

Materials: Planters, rubber curb stops (to create traffic chokers), signage, street murals, paint, benches, tables, bike racks, decorative lighting

Estimated Cost: $20,000

P5: South/West Housatonic – Parklet

What: Convert the southbound pocket right turn lane to a parklet plus additional on-street parking spaces.

Why: Currently an ongoing pilot to protect the northwest corner of the intersection. There was frequent encroachment from large trucks onto the sidewalk when turning right. Potential to further utilize the space for outdoor seating or vending for abutting businesses

Materials: Interlocking gates, planters, temporary curb ramps, signage, bike racks, paint

Estimated Cost: $11,000

P6: Columbus/North – “Gateway” Intersection

What: Placemaking and wayfinding

Why: This is a wide intersection adjacent to the county intermodal transportation center, and also the halfway point in a journey along the downtown corridor. A sense of enclosure, place, and wayfinding could help welcome visitors and keep foot traffic engaged to continue along North Street

Materials: Shade structures (e.g. umbrellas), bike racks, flex posts, public art, consider traffic calming elements such as coloring with epoxy gravel

Estimated Cost: $21,000

P7: Palace Park – Plaza

What: Temporary outdoor seating/plaza

Why: This plaza has latent potential as a gathering space with its unique brick arch, existing lighting, and central location. It could be used by the adjacent theater company as performance space, or outdoor dining/vending space by local entrepreneurs

Materials: Picnic or bench seating, landscaping with planters on low brick walls, overhead solar lighting, small shade sail structures (e.g. umbrellas); Plaza is privately owned, and an understanding would need to be reached with the owner

Estimated Cost: $7,000

P8: North Street “Gateway” – Enhanced Corridor

What: Enhanced corridor with interactive art, play elements, parklets

Why: This block of North Street presents a perceived obstacle to foot traffic, as the block has a high vacancy rate on one side, and a single business on the other side. The lack of activity or attractions can cause pedestrians to turn back or overall discourage foot traffic through the entire North Street corridor

Materials: Installations TBD with input from local art and programming directors. Includes parklets, shade structures, crowd fencing, paint, bike racks, planters, temporary curb ramps

Estimated Cost: $21,000

P9: North/Wahconah – “Gateway” Intersection

What: Placemaking/gateway area

Why: This wide intersection sets the stage for motorists entering the downtown area, and could be improved to calm traffic and create a gateway experience for the adjacent hospital and Wahconah Street corridor. It could also serve as another site for a protected intersection demonstration, as it will be an important node in the city bicycling network

Materials: Shade structures (e.g. umbrellas), flex posts, paint, bike racks.

Estimated Cost: $6,000

P10: Capitol Square – “Gateway” Intersection

What: Placemaking around the offset intersections of Union Street and Melville Street

Why: This short block could be re-styled into a central square area framed by the historic Capitol Theater marquee, Hotel on North, YMCA, and nearby Barrington Stage Company. A true gateway to calm traffic and set the feel for a downtown area could be achieved by coloring the pavement surface, narrowing travel lanes, and creating an enclosed area with shade structures or other vertical elements. Potential for mixing of many different demographics and users

Materials: bicycle repair station, mural, shade structures (e.g. umbrellas), bike racks, flex posts, paint

Estimated Cost: $15,000