New visitors center opening in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD – In a location especially convenient to bus and train travelers, the city will be opening a new visitors center over Memorial Day weekend.

The City of Pittsfield has signed a lease with the Berkshire Regional Transportation Authority (BRTA) to open a new Pittsfield Visitors Center in the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center, located at 1 Columbus Ave.

“The City of Pittsfield welcomes more and more visitors from down the street and around the world every year,” Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi said. “We are grateful to the Berkshire Regional Transportation Agency for partnering with us to provide a welcoming staffed visitors center in the heart of Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District.”

The Intermodal Center is the transportation hub of The Berkshires, offering train (Amtrak), bus (Peter Pan and BRTA) and taxi service, and is also a satellite site for Berkshire Community College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts classes.

“Hosting the Pittsfield Visitors Center at the Intermodal Center is a perfect match,” BRTA Director Gary Shepard said. “The visitors center will provide a welcoming presence for the thousands of travelers and visitors who pass through our doors.”

The visitors center previously had a temporary home in the Colonial Theatre.

“We are very grateful to the Colonial Theatre for graciously hosting the Pittsfield Visitors Center while we searched for a permanent site,” said Janet Brennan, chair of the Pittsfield Tourism Commission and director of food, beverage and special events at the Crowne Plaza.

RSVP volunteers

The visitors center will be staffed by volunteers from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

“RSVP volunteers have been the mainstay of Pittsfield’s visitor outreach for decades,” said Sheila Pia, the director of the RSVP. “We are thrilled to be staffing the new Pittsfield Visitors Center. Our volunteers are devoted to helping visitors find the very best of Pittsfield and The Berkshires.”

The Pittsfield Visitors Center will be open year-round, with varied hours depending upon the season.

For more information about the visitors center, contact Jennifer Glockner, Pittsfield tourism coordinator, at (413) 499-9348 or jglockner@pittsfieldch.com.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on April 25, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry