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It’s MUD SEASON! Tell us about your Dirt/Gravel Roads!

It’s MUD SEASON! Tell us about your Dirt/Gravel Roads!

The FRCOG is working with Rep. Natalie Blais to better understand the conditions of our communities’ unpaved roads and the effort/cost that goes into their maintenance and repair every year. To help with this effort, the FRCOG has created an interactive online map in which anyone can add points to show the location of known issue spots on your dirt/gravel roads: https://tinyurl.com/3ydvt2d6.

Mark the map with locations that have reoccurring maintenance issues or that are in need of repair.   You can also upload photos and details.

Your input will help State Rep. Blais make her case in Boston about the needed funding for Western Mass unpaved roads!  For more information, contact Senior Transportation & Land Use Planner, Megan Rhodes at mrhodes@frcog.org or (413) 774-3167 x132.

 

Regional Pedestrian Plan for Franklin County is Available Online

Regional Pedestrian Plan for Franklin County

The Regional Pedestrian Plan for Franklin County is completed and available online at Pedestrian Plan for Franklin County 2021.

The plan provides a comprehensive resource that identifies tools and strategies for developing pedestrian-related infrastructure improvements in Franklin County. It is intended to inspire and encourage towns to consider pedestrian accessibility whenever feasible.  For an overview of the contents of the plan, the presentation given at the public review meeting held on September 8, 2021, is available here.

For further information, please contact Senior Transportation Planner II, Beth Giannini at giannini@frcog.org.

The new Franklin County Rural Road Guide is available

Staying on top of all of the regulations, standards, guidelines, and funding sources related to the maintenance and improvement of local roadways is a challenge for Towns. To assist with that, the FRCOG Transportation Planning staff have compiled the Franklin County Rural Road Guide, a quick reference for answers to common questions about roadway operations and regulations in Franklin County. It contains summaries of relevant information and links to the most commonly used and referenced transportation legislation, policies, and design manuals in one handy guide. The Rural Road Guide is available here. Please contact Laurie Scarbrough, Transportation Planning Engineer, with any questions or feedback on the Rural Road Guide: lscarbrough@frcog.org.

Amtrak’s Valley Flyer Back to Full Service!

All aboard Amtrak’s Valley Flyer! The Valley Flyer has service from Greenfield, Northampton, and Holyoke to New Haven, CT.  The Valley Flyer connects to New York City and beyond! The Valley Flyer is making stops for Times Square and Columbus Circle. Book your ride today at http://amtrak.com/valleyflyer

Draft Amendment to the 2021 TIP Highway List released for Public Review

The FCTPO released a Draft Amendment to the 2021 TIP Highway Project list on July 27, 2021. The Draft Amendment will be available for a 21-day public review and comment period from Friday, July 30 through Thursday, August 19, 2021. Comments on the Draft Amendment can be submitted in writing to lscarbrough@frcog.org or FRCOG, 12 Olive Street, Suite 2, Greenfield MA 01301.

DRAFT Franklin 2021-2025 TIP Highway AMENDMENT 1

Public Review of the Draft Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership Recreation Map and Inventory

Through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation for the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership area, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) and the Franklin Region Council of Governments (FRCOG) are developing an inventory and online map of the recreational assets in the 21-town partnership area. At this time, BRPC and FRCOG are looking for feedback on the draft inventory and map, which are available in the following links.

Map of MTWP Recreation Inventory: https://berkshire.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=44be5855f1614d3ea3d076fbbd4caf9d

Berkshire County Recreation Inventory (northern portion of county): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aAeRJZbz9K7UYP9rIe2gV5667DlIAXNx/view?usp=sharing

Franklin County Recreation Inventory (western portion of county): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lGpcbxD9gBzIQPBQaUM3CbtWE-dULlqI/view?usp=sharing

Please give us your comments and corrections by May 31st to:

Franklin County:
Beth Giannini, Franklin Region Council of Governments
giannini@frcog.org
413-774-3167×125

 

Franklin County Regional Pollinator Action Plan Workshop

The Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) will host a Franklin County Pollinator Planning workshop on Thursday, May 20th at 2:00 p.m. The workshop will be an opportunity to discuss strategies and opportunities for expanding pollinator habitat across the county and reflect on lessons learned from the work FRCOG has been doing with 8 partnering towns: Greenfield, Heath, Shelburne, Conway, Bernardston, Montague, Wendell, and Orange. The Franklin County workshop will also be an opportunity for anyone who missed the town workshops to join the pollinator habitat discussion.  Pre-register for the zoom meeting via the registration link.

With funding from an Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Planning Grant, FRCOG is working to map local pollinator habitat and resource areas and identify corridor linkages, recommend updates to local land-use regulations to include requirements for native plantings for development and pollinator-friendly landscape management practices, and create a Pollinator Habitat Corridor Implementation Toolkit.  The plan will be expandable so that with additional funding and interest from other Franklin County towns, regional pollinator corridors can be expanded across the county.  Local-level strategies such as these are critically needed to respond to climate change, habitat loss, and declining populations of wild, native pollinator species.  The sustainability of our local ecosystems, farms, and food systems is linked to pollinators.

Agenda FC Pollinator Plan Workshop 5.20.21

For additional information please contact Helena Farrell at HFarrell@frcog.org.

Public Review Period for a 2021 UPWP Budget Reallocation

The Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization (FCTPO) reviewed and released a budget reallocation to the Franklin 2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for a 21-day public review and comment period on April 27, 2021. This comment period will run from April 30 through May 21, 2021. Public comments should be submitted in writing to Maureen Mullaney at mmullaney@frcog.org.

FRCOG UPWP Budget reallocation request 4 16 21

Public Review Period for the Draft Franklin 2022 Unified Planning Work Program

The Draft Franklin 2022 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is out for a 21-day public review. The Franklin County Transportation Planning Organization (FCTPO) reviewed and released the Draft Franklin 2022 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for a 21-day public review and comment period on April 27, 2021. The comment period will run from April 30 through May 21, 2021. Public comments on the Draft UPWP should be submitted in writing to Maureen Mullaney at mmullaney@frcog.org.

Draft Franklin 2022 Unified Planning Work Program

Draft 2022-2026 TIP Public Comment Period is Open and Virtual Info. Meeting

The FCTPO reviewed and released the Draft 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program for a 21-day public review and comment period on April 27, 2021. This comment period will run from April 30 through May 21, 2021. Public comments on the Draft TIP should be submitted in writing to Laurie Scarbrough at lscarbrough@frcog.org.

Draft 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Franklin Region

The Franklin Regional Council of Governments is hosting a Virtual Public Information Meeting via Zoom on Thursday, May 6th from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. See meeting link.

Public Info Meeting Notice Franklin 2022-2026 TIP