State Representative Smitty Pignatelli

State: Mass. Pike Electronic Tolling Designed To Be ‘Revenue-Neutral’

Massachusetts transportation officials project taking in less money when all-electronic tolling takes effect on the Mass Pike.

State transportation officials project toll collections will be about $10 million less for the first year of electronic tolling. But with the money saved from not having to pay toll collectors, MassDOT says the project will end up being revenue-neutral.

Lenox State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli says tolls help pay for road maintenance and he hopes revenues don’t come up short.

“I think the revenue-neutral is important as long as they keep up on the maintenance, don’t defer maintenance,” Pignatelli said. “I think historically they’ve done a good job, but when communities and the state governments defer capital expenditures on maintenance, that’s when it catches up and we get into trouble.”

The state released proposed toll rates this week, with all-electronic tolling set to begin in late October.

Baker Administration Unveils New Broadband Framework

Governor Charlie Baker’s administration is rolling out a new framework to bring high-speed internet to rural communities in western Massachusetts.

The plan would give towns more latitude to choose what works best for them. Communities could work with a private provider, run their own network or take a regional approach. To actually deliver the high speed internet – towns could choose cable, fiber optic or wireless. Lenox State Representative Smitty Pignatelli says he supports this flexible approach and hopes the process moves quickly.

“Towns that are ready to go, I’d say give them the tools and let them go,” Pignatelli says. “The towns that need a little more hand-holding, let’s hold their hand and get them on the mark.”

Earlier this year, Governor Baker froze funding to all broadband projects to conduct a review of the so-called “Last Mile” project. He has also hired new leadership for the initiative.

Kinder Morgan Seeks Court Order To Allow Berkshire Pipeline Construction To Begin

Kinder Morgan is seeking an injunction to allow it to begin construction of a natural gas pipeline that would pass through southern Berkshire County on its way to Connecticut.

This pipeline spur would run alongside an existing one, partly through state-owned conservation land in Sandisfield. State law says that would require Kinder Morgan to get two-thirds approval of the legislature.

In court documents, the company says federal approval, received last week, should override the state law. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, agrees with the Kinder Morgan.

State Representative Smitty Pignatelli is clearly frustrated.

“Sandisfield and a lot of us have been ‘FERCed,'” Pignatelli says. “And that’s just how I feel. Total disregard from FERC, total disrespect from Kinder Morgan. And someone needs to hold their feet to the fire and hold them accountable.”

The case is scheduled to be heard in Berkshire Superior Court March 30th.

Pignatelli says the outcome of this suit could impact a separate project from Kinder Morgan, its pipeline proposal through northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

Farley-Bouvier, Pignatelli Mulling Run For State Senate

Two Berkshire County state representatives say they are thinking about a run for State Senator Ben Downing’s seat. Downing announced Monday that he will not seek a sixth term.

Pittsfield State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier says she would be in a strong position to take the Senate seat if she runs. She says there’s a lot to consider before making that decision.

“The impact it would have on my family, what impact it would have on my constitutes in the Third Berkshire District and then the impact on the constitutes on the greater senate district, in that order,” Farley-Bouvier says.

Another Berkshire legislator, Representative Smitty Pignatelli of Lenox, tells the Berkshire Eagle he too is considering a run for the state Senate. Pignatelli is in a better financial position than Farley-Bouvier.The latest campaign finance reports have Pignatelli with a war chest of almost $90,000, and Farley-Bouvier with just less than $7,000

17 Southern Berkshire Communities Receive Grants To Explore Shared Services

Seventeen southern Berkshire County towns are receiving state and private grants to explore ways to share services. Governor Charlie Baker was in Great Barrington Tuesday to make the announcement.

Town officials say the money will help them find ways to share services with a focus on schools, including professional development and common data systems. The hope is to hold the line on property taxes and rising costs. Governor Baker, along with Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, applauded the effort and vowed to help work with these communities.

“There’s nothing that Karyn and I enjoy more than an opportunity to do something that puts a smile on the face of our colleagues in local government,” Baker says. “We know how close you are to the people that we all serve and we cannot be a great state if we’re not made up of great communities. That’s a fact.”

The state is contributing about $75,000 to encourage the cooperation, with local businesses kicking in $25,000.