Transportation Planning
Transit Planning
Lowell Regional Transit Authority
The Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) began operations in late 1976, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 161B of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Authority is given general responsibility to develop, finance, and contract for the operation of mass transportation facilities and services within its territory. For more information on LRTA and their services, please visit https://lrta.com/about-lrta/
Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan
Every five years, LRTA updates its Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan (CRTP) which outlines the Authority’s goals for the next five years.
Generalized Transit Feed Specification
GTFS, or General Transit Feed Specification, provides a standardized data format for public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. This allows for seamless integration of transit data into various mapping and navigation tools including LRTA’s Interactive System Map. For those looking for latest publicly available GTFS data for the LRTA, it can be accessed and downloaded via the following link: LRTA GTFS Data.
Battery Electric Bus Bridge Weight and Height Study
In this ESRI StoryMap NMCOG presents an analysis by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) examining the readiness of bridges in the Greater Lowell region to accommodate battery electric buses (BEBs).
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice (EJ) is based on the principle that all people have a right to be protected from environmental hazards and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment. EJ is the equal protection and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits. To learn more about EJ populations and how the state of Massachusetts defines EJ communities, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/environmental-justice-populations-in-massachusetts.
The NMMPO is equally committed to implementing federal Executive Order 12898, entitled “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.” In this capacity, the NMMPO identifies and addresses disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. The NMMPO carries out this responsibility by involving minority and low-income individuals in the transportation process and considering their transportation needs in the development and review of the NMMPO’s transportation plans, programs, and projects.
For more information, visit MassDOT’s Title VI Program website. Translation of this document is provided at no cost upon request.
Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HST) 2023
The Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HST) is triennially developed. The goal of the CPT-HST is to identify strategies to improve the quality and availability of transportation services for the disabled and elder populations in the region. NMCOG staff on behalf of the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) develop this plan. The plan assesses the transportation needs of persons with disabilities and seniors within the Northern Middlesex Region and coordination with other transportation service providers.
On July 26, 2023, the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) voted to endorse the 2023 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Plan.