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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

 

 

The FRCOG is Accepting Traffic Count Requests

The FRCOG’s transportation staff is accepting requests for the 2021 Traffic Counting Program. We offer vehicle volume, classification, and speed counts, as well as bicycle counts and intersection turning movement counts. All traffic counts are available to our member communities at no charge.

Speed counts include detailed reports of vehicle speeding statistics that can help to assess citizens’ concerns, verify if unsafe speeding is occurring, and identify the best times of day to conduct effective speed enforcement. New this year, we are now able to collect spot speed data that can be used to evaluate posted speed limits. Although the Covid-19 pandemic is still with us, traffic volumes are steadily returning to normal levels. The FRCOG Traffic Counting Program will continue to monitor volume trends at key regional locations this season. We can advise on the appropriate timing to collect any traffic data you may need.

Please send in any requests for traffic counts using this form. Please submit a separate form for each count location.

2021 Traffic Count Request Form

Please contact Laurie Scarbrough at LScarbrough@frcog.org for more information.

MA Drought Alert

Please be aware that Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 1-Mild Drought in all seven regions of the Commonwealth. Please see  MA Drought Alert – December 2020 for information on the current drought conditions and how communities can mitigate and prepare for long-term drought impacts.

For more information on the current drought conditions, and technical guidance regarding drought management actions, please visit www.mass.gov/ma-drought-management.

 

 

Trail Improvement Work Completed on the Mahican Mohawk Trail

As part of a MassTrail Grant being managed by the FRCOG, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) completed trail improvements on a section of the Mahican Mohawk Trail. These trail improvements were completed this fall.  The improvements are one of four trail improvement projects funded through the grant award.

Photo showing trail work to clear fallen trees from the Mahican Mohawk Trail

A section of the Mahican Mohawk Trail where fallen trees were cleared as part of trail improvements.

A photo of a newly constructed trail crossing on the Mahican Mohawk Trail

A new crossing of Wheeler Brook was constructed on the Mahican Mohawk Trail as part of a MassTrails funded improvement project.

 

Erving is Awarded Complete Streets Funding

The Town of Erving has been awarded $399,596 for the construction of five pedestrian and bicycle mobility projects through the MassDOT Complete Streets Program. The grant is the culmination of close work between Erving and the FRCOG Transportation Planning staff to prepare a successful Complete Streets application. The awarded funds will be used for sidewalk rehabilitation and improvement projects on Central Street, Gunn Street, Park Street, Pratt Street, and River Street. Congratulations to Erving for their support of safe and healthy transportation options.

A picture of the existing sidewalk on Gunn Street in Ervingside.

Complete Streets improvements in Erving include restoring sidewalks on Gunn Street.

 

MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Program Funds Projects in Franklin County Towns

The FRCOG assisted several Franklin County towns to apply for funding through the MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces Program. The program provided funding for communities to quickly implement improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces, and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce. The FRCOG assisted the Town of Gill to secure $20,023 in funding for temporary pedestrian accommodations in the town center, and the Town of Montague to secure $35,300 for temporary traffic calming and pedestrian facilities on Third Street, L Street, and at Unity Park. Additional Shared Streets and Spaces grants in Franklin County were awarded to Buckland, Greenfield, Orange, and Shelburne.

A photo to show the delineators installed to narrow the intersection and create more space for crossing pedestrians on Third Street.

Delineators were installed to narrow the intersection and create more space for crossing pedestrians on Third Street in Turners Falls.

To show the newly painted sidewalk area on Third Street in Turners Falls

As part of the Shared Streets and Spaces Program, an area for pedestrians was delineated with colorful paint on Third Street in Turners Falls.