The FRCOG Staff evaluated the existing park and ride facilities in Franklin County to determine how well they are being utilized. In addition, FRCOG Staff conducted surveys of the park and ride users to better understand where people were coming from and how they were using the lots. The study shows that the use of the Whately and Sunderland park and ride lots continue to increase in popularity and that many users of the Sunderland lot are parking there in order to access public transit. For more information, contact Megan Rhodes, Senior Transportation and Land Use Planner, at mrhodes@frcog.org.
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Shelburne Falls Receives American Planning Association (APA) Great Places Designation
The Franklin Regional Council of Government is thrilled to celebrate the designation of the village of Shelburne Falls as one of the American Planning Association’s 2018 Great Places and congratulates the Towns of Buckland and Shelburne. The village of Shelburne Falls is a 19th-century industrial village that spans the Deerfield River in the towns of Shelburne and Buckland, Massachusetts. While industry is no longer a significant part of the economy of Shelburne Falls, it remains the historical backdrop of this culturally and community rich village. Shelburne Falls has the structures and layout of a well preserved 19th-century industrial village with a mix of commercial, institutional, and residential land uses. The village has a strong sense of community (the estimated population of the village of Shelburne Falls is 1,632), and a well-established business and cultural center and a destination for visitors to the area. The village is located in Franklin County, a rural region of Massachusetts that is characterized by its scenic landscapes and quality of life. Shelburne Falls is being recognized by the APA as a great neighborhood. It has been shaped and maintained by many proactive and positive planning initiatives involving both of the towns that share the village. While Shelburne and Buckland are separate towns, in many instances the planning initiatives are completed collaboratively.
For more information on the APA’s Great Places program and Shelburne Fall’s designation see the links below:
https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/
https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/neighborhoods/2018/shelburne/
Public Comment Period for the Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan is now Open
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced that the Draft Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan is now available for public comment. You can review the plan and provide feedback online here.
MassDOT is focused on making the Commonwealth’s transportation system more sustainable – to make it safe and comfortable for people to choose to walk, bike, and take transit for more of their daily trips. The Plan defines a vision for Massachusetts in which all people have a safe and comfortable walking option for short trips. For more information on the Pedestrian Plan and to provide feedback: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/pedestrian-plan.
In addition to the Plan, a companion document was created, called the Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability in recognition of the important role local cities and towns play. The purpose of the guide is to support cities and towns in their efforts to improve walkability as the vast majority of roadways and sidewalks statewide are under local ownership. A draft guide was released in September of 2017, and an updated version will be published with the final Pedestrian Plan later this year.
Erving Residents Invited to Attend Climate Resiliency Planning Workshop
The Town of Erving was recently awarded a $20,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s new Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program to complete a climate change vulnerability assessment, develop resiliency strategies, and update the town’s FEMA-approved Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The town will be working with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) on this project. Communities that complete the MVP designation planning process become certified as an MVP community and are eligible for MVP Action grant funding to implement priority projects.
Erving and FRCOG are hosting a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Community Resilience Building Workshop to help town staff, volunteers, residents, and businesses define top local natural and climate-related hazards of concern, identify existing and future strengths and vulnerabilities, and identify and prioritize actions and projects the Town can implement to increase climate change resilience.
The MVP Workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Erving Senior & Community Center, located at 1 Care Drive in Erving. Residents, business owners, and stakeholders are invited to attend. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Bryan Smith, Erving Administrative Coordinator at admin@erving-ma.org by September 26th.
For more information regarding the MVP planning process contact: Evan Abramson, Land Use & Natural Resources Planner, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, eabramson@frcog.org or 413-774-3167 x131
Look Who’s Walking!
The FRCOG is thrilled to announce that we have updated our popular Walk Franklin County maps! Every Franklin County town has its own map that highlights scenic walking routes ranging from one to four miles with points of interest marked along the way.
In celebration of these new maps, we are challenging you to grab a map, take a walk and tell us about it. We will be raffling off great prizes to participants who tell us about their walk. The prizes include a Fitbit and great accessories to keep you walking into the Fall and Winter seasons. See the attached flyer with details.
Digital versions of the new maps are posted at the link below.
21- Day Public Review and Comment Period for the 2016 Long Range Transportation Plan’s Air Quality Conformity
The FRCOG will open a 21-day public review and comment period for an amendment to the 2016 Long Range Regional Transportation Plan’s Air Quality Conformity. Comments will be accepted from Monday, August 6, 2018, until Tuesday, August 28, 2018. A copy of the draft amendment is available for review here. A hard copy can be requested by emailing mmullaney@frcog.org or calling (413) 774-3167 x 129.
Buckland and Whately Complete Streets Prioritization Plans
Buckland and Whately Complete Streets (CS) Prioritization Plans are nearing completion. By completing a CS Prioritization Plan, Towns become eligible to apply for up to $400,000 per year to construct the improvements that are identified in the Plan.
See the projects that are included in the plans in the Story Maps below.
Buckland Story Map
Whately Story Map
For further information, please contact Senior Transportation Planner II, Elizabeth Giannini at Giannini@frcog.org.
Meeting of the Western MA Historical Commission Coalition
The Western MA Historical Commission Coalition will meet on Wednesday, June 20th from 10-noon at the Lenox Town Hall, 6 Walker St, Lenox, MA.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Giannini at giannini@frcog.org.
Draft Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Released for 21-day Public Review
On April 24, 2018, the FCTPO released a Draft Franklin 2019 UPWP. There will be a 21-day public comment period on the draft UPWP from Friday, April 27 through Friday, May 18, 2018. Comments may be submitted in writing by email to mrhodes@frcog.org or by mail to Franklin Regional Council of Governments, 12 Olive Street, Suite 2, Greenfield MA 01301.
Public Comment Period Open for the Draft 2019-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Amendment #3 to the 2018-2022 TIP
On April 24, 2018, the FCTPO released a Draft Amendment #3 to the 2018-2022 TIP Highway Project list as well as a Draft 2019-2023 Transportation Improvement Program. There will be a 21-day public comment period on the draft TIP documents from Friday, April 27 through Friday, May 18, 2018. Comments may be submitted in writing by email to lscarbrough@frcog.org or by mail to Franklin Regional Council of Governments, 12 Olive Street, Suite 2, Greenfield MA 01301. Links to the draft TIP documents are below:
Draft 2018-2022 TIP Highway Amendment #3: Draft 2018-2022 TIP Highway Amendment 3
Draft 2019-2023 TIP Highway Project List: Draft 2019-2023 TIP Highway Project List
Draft 2019-2023 TIP Transit Project List: Draft 2019-2023 TIP Transit Project List
Draft 2019-2023 TIP Full Text: Draft 2019-2023 TIP Full Text
