A Berkshire County rail trail has received a new round of state funding. As Berkshire Bureau Chief Josh Landes reports, it’s part of an effort to address longstanding inequities between the eastern and western regions of the commonwealth.

The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail has been slowly unfurling across Berkshire County for decades. The multi-use path has become a beloved fixture. Its 14-odd miles take users on a scenic ramble north to south through the Hoosac River Valley.

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Laura Brennan said its potential is yet to be fully realized.

“So right now, we have an extensive bikeable and walkable path that leads from Pittsfield up into Adams, and it’s a wonderful asset,” Brennan said. “It is primarily used for recreational purposes, but the longer and more available trails like this are, the more they can become an alternative, not just for recreation but for active transportation to jobs, to appointments, to social engagements.”

First opened in 2001, the trail has seen a series of expansions over the last 25 years, but remains unconnected to key Northern Berkshire communities.

The BRPC received over $17 million last year to design the last 9.3 miles that will take the trail from Williamstown through North Adams to its current northerly terminus in Adams. This month, the commission got another chunk of change from the commonwealth to assist the project.

The full article is available on WAMC.