The same option with the bike lane at street level.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Downtown Pittsfield Inc. proposed angled parking on North Street and was pleasantly surprised that the city responded with an in-depth study and new plans — even if they don't include angled parking.

The City Council mulled a study and resulting design on Tuesday that maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes. DPI last year requested that angled parking be considered in the corridor after polling showed 60 percent support for a reconfiguration.

The study can be found here.

"When we brought the request to the City Council to reconfigure the parking patterns in downtown, we expected a quick yes or no response. What we did not anticipate was the thorough evaluation and analysis of angled parking and its alternatives that is being presented this evening," Managing Director Rebecca Brien said.

"DPI would like to withdraw this request in order to support the proposed design. Based on the key takeaways from the report, we agree that this option most strongly promotes a welcoming downtown by providing slower traffic, wider sidewalks, and a safe path for bicycles. We look forward to working with the City of Pittsfield and providing feedback on the final design through forums, online polls, and in-person interviews with our members."

The favored plan, staged for implantation next year, includes protected bike lanes at sidewalk or street level, which can be built while maintaining existing curbs. These include a 5- or 6-foot separated bike lane between a landscaped buffer and sidewalk and an 11-foot travel lane, leaving 19 feet unobstructed from curb to curb.

Community input will be taken before the plan reaches the street.

While the request was to evaluate angled parking configurations, it was determined that it would present too many trade-offs such as impacts on emergency services, bike lanes, and pedestrian spaces.

"We had one goal to evaluate angled parking but at the same time we took the opportunity to envision what the natural next iteration of North Street looks like after having the solid data from the study," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales explained.

Working with Kittleson & Associates, the city evaluated existing typical sections, potential parking configurations, and a review of parking standards. It compared front-in and back-in angle parking and explored parking space count alterations, emergency routing, and alternate routes for passing through traffic within the framework of current infrastructure constraints.

There are currently 136 eight-foot parallel parking spaces. With 45-degree angled parking, there could be 231 spaces and with 30-degree angled parking, there could be 163.

Morales said that equally impactful as the added parking are negative safety, mobility, and spatial impacts to the downtown.

"After careful analysis and consideration of the various alternatives presented, it is clear that option No. 4 — maintaining parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes-emerges as the preferred alternative," he wrote in the study summary. "This option aligns with our commitment to safety, inclusivity, and the aesthetic appeal of our city. It offers a solution that enhances the streetscape for pedestrians, businesses, cyclists, and drivers alike, without compromising the functionality of North St." 

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III asked what happens when emergency vehicles respond to an address on North Street and the commissioner there have been discussions with the Fire Department about the topic.

"Anywhere else we have some fire or something happens, streets community close off. So that's normal," Morales said.

"What we need to think about and we have already started the conversation with the Fire Department is what happens to secondary responders to that same location. How delayed or not delayed or what the impacts are for secondary responders."

Additional handicapped spots with ramp accessibility were also an item of discussion as they are not currently considered in the design but can be in the future. Currently, the only van-accessible handicapped spot on North Street is in front of the YMCA.

Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn said the city should take into consideration the more efficient way to increase parking.

"That is true in terms of the amount of parking," Morales said. "The reality is that with the implementation of the three-hour limit, there has been an increase in turnover, which has been welcomed by the business, retail, and restaurant community as well."

"I am in full support of the North Street redesign," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.

"I have been on the council since your pilot has started with the bike lanes and I agree with you going down to one lane in both directions, I also think bike infrastructure is important but I can also see why the current configuration is confusing to some people and I appreciate you coming forward with a plan to improve what we currently have."

There were two variations of the preferred plan presented, one with protected bike lanes at sidewalk level and another at street level. Kavey prefers the alternative with street-level bike lanes to increase space for outdoor dining and likes the landscape buffer provided between parallel parking and the bike lane.

"I do hope you consider trees because we want more greenery in downtown," he said. "The only thing about the trees though is if we plant them will we be able to maintain them? So I would love to see trees but I would also like to see our plan to maintain them and if those trees are planted."

Councilor at Large Alisa Costa thanked the commissioner for the study and said it was "really interesting to see the differences" between options.

Nick Russo, leader of the Pittsfield Community Design Center, also favors the chosen option.

"Personally, I do support the preferred alternative that includes the parallel parking, protected bike lanes, and wide sidewalks," he said.

"I think it's a good balance of options for all different modes of transportation, which is essential for a healthy main street."

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