Northern Middlesex Council of Go

Welcome to the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) Regional Transportation Plan Update page. The 2011-2035 Transportation plan for the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) region is now complete. Please feel free to peruse the site or contact us with any questions/comments.

Send your comments to us by our RTP Comment Form.

Frequently asked questions:

What is a Regional Transportation Plan?

A Regional Transportation Plan or RTP is a long range planning document for the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) for regional transportation related issues. The RTP will identify facilites, programs, and major public investments necessary to maintain and judiciously expand the existing multimodal system. All future transportation projects funded in whole or in part with federal funds must be included in the RTP. Under the requirements of SAFETEA-LU, the RTP must be updated every four years.

The RTP includes a public participation process seeking input from interested individuals and organizations in development of the goals and objectives for multi modal transportation issues throughout the Northern Middlesex region for the next 20 years.

What’s the purpose of the Plan?

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Plan update at least every four years, effective January 1, 2007. The Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) adopted its Transportation Plan in 2007; therefore, this Plan must be adopted by September 2011. The Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is a listing of proposed financially feasible multimodal transportation improvement projects needed to meet the future travel demand of people and goods in the Northern Middlesex Region . These projects include transit, pedestrian and bicycle, and roadway facilities. The LRTP covers a 30-year period and is used by transportation officials and decision makers to guide the expenditure of transportation dollars.

What’s an MPO and what’s its function in the Northern Middlesex region?

The Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) is one of the 13 Massachusetts regions established to carry out federally funded transportation plans and programs. The NMMPO is composed of the chairpersons of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) and the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), the Secretary of Transportation and the Highway Division Administrator at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The Secretary of Transportation serves as the Chairman of the MPO. In addition, the following are also voting members of the MPO: the chief elected official from the City of Lowell elected to serve as the city's representative to the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, a selectman elected to serve on the Council and further elected by the Council to serve as that town's representative to the NMMPO, and an LRTA Advisory Board member representing a community within the NMMPO boundaries other than the City of Lowell, who may also be an elected official. A representative from the Federal Highway Administration and a representative from the Federal Transit Administration serve as ex officio, non-voting members of the MPO.

Calendar of Events:

Lowell Neighborhood Association Meetings:

Pawtucketville Citizens Council: June 7th, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the An Wang School Auditorium

Highlands Neighborhood Association: June 14th, 2010 at 7:00 PM at Saint Margaret's Rectory, 374 Stevens Street

Back Central Neighborhood Association: June 17th, 2010 at 7:00 PM at Saint Anthony's Hall, 920 Central Street

Coalition for a Better Acre Board Meeting: July 14th, 2010 at 6:00 PM at 517 Moody Street in Lowell

Regional Public Input Sessions:

July 27th, 2010 from 6-8 PM at the Tewksbury Library

July 28th, 2010 from 6-8 PM at the Tyngsborough Town Hall Community Room

Links:

Learn about the MPO

RTP Goals and Objectives

Map Gallery

Project Team