Governor Healey Celebrates New State Support to Advance Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Expansion

 Governor Healey Celebrates New State Support to Advance Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Expansion

 Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office grant will help advance 9.3-mile trail expansion connecting Adams, North Adams and Williamstown

ADAMS – Governor Maura Healey today celebrated a $64,700 state grant to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) to help advance the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail expansion, building on a $17.3 million federal award secured last year for the transformative Western Massachusetts project.

https://transportation-insecurity.umich.edu/The funding, awarded through the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO), will allow BRPC to gather information about transportation needs in northern Berkshire County that will help inform the design of the trail expansion. BRPC will use a survey tool developed by the University of Michigan to better understand transportation insecurity, including barriers residents face in accessing reliable and affordable transportation.

“The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is already an incredible asset for the Berkshires, and this expansion will create even stronger connections between communities across the region,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We created the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office to help communities compete for federal dollars and make the most of the investments they win. This grant will help local leaders build on the $17.3 million federal award for this project and make sure the next phase reflects how people actually get around northern Berkshire County.”

“The best infrastructure projects are shaped by the people who use them every day,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This funding will help Berkshire leaders hear directly from residents about where transportation gaps exist and use that information to design a trail that better connects Adams, North Adams and Williamstown. It’s a smart investment that will help turn major federal funding into a project that works for the communities it serves.”

FFIO Director Quentin Palfrey joined several Western Massachusetts leaders, including State Representative John Barrett and BRPC Executive Director Laura Brennan in Adams to highlight the award and the broader Ashuwillticook Rail Trail expansion. As part of the event, Palfrey and local leaders participated in a bike ride from the Adams Visitor Center to the existing terminus of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. 

“With our Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance awards, we’re enabling communities across Massachusetts —especially here in Western Massachusetts—to tackle key needs while unlocking additional federal support,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “Our team at the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office looks forward to continuing our efforts to build local capacity across the Commonwealth.”

The grant is part of the most recent round of Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance (MTTA) awards made by the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO). The MTTA program provides technical assistance grants to local projects that are pursuing or have received federal dollars. In July, FFIO announced awards to 25 communities across Massachusetts, totaling $1,108,700.

In 2025, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail expansion – also known as the A2A Project – received a $17.3 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to support the design of a 9.3-mile shared-use path connecting the existing Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to the Williamstown Mohican Path. The proposed route will travel through downtown North Adams and the MASS MoCA campus, creating new connections between communities and expanding the region’s network for walking and biking.

Because the A2A Project is receiving federal funding, BRPC was eligible to apply for additional state technical assistance through the MTTA program. The new funding will help ensure that the project’s design reflects local transportation needs and the experiences of residents who may lack reliable or affordable transportation options.

“These MTTA funds are not simply a one-time support of efforts to expand the bike trail another 9 miles north to North Adams and west to Williamstown,” said Laura Brennan, Executive Director of BRPC. “Using the Transportation Security Index (TSI) model to survey residents of the Berkshires about their transportation needs will make us more competitive for future grants – from federal, state, and foundation sources – a help to the whole region in the long term.”

The A2A Project is about more than connecting two trails. It’s about connecting our communities and creating new opportunities for residents and visitors throughout Northern Berkshire County,” said State Representative John Barrett. “This additional state support will help move an important project forward and ensure it delivers lasting benefits for the region.”

Governor Healey created the Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance program as part of legislation she filed to make Massachusetts more competitive for federal funding and give local governments additional resources to pursue major infrastructure investments. The program was established through Chapter 214 of the Acts of 2024, An Act to Provide for Competitiveness and Infrastructure Investment in Massachusetts.

Since its launch, FFIO has awarded $2,048,950 in MTTA grants to help communities across Massachusetts pursue and implement federally funded projects. The program is part of Governor Healey’s broader strategy to bring more federal dollars to Massachusetts and make sure communities of every size have the resources and expertise to compete for them.