Long Range Transportation Plan

Envision 2050: The Greater Lowell Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

Envision 2050, the Long Range Regional Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the Greater Lowell region, identifies and analyzes the Northern Middlesex region's transportation infrastructure and service improvement needs. The plan covers a 25-year planning horizon and includes strategies for developing an integrated multi-modal transportation network, including pedestrian, biking, and motorized travel. The LRTP is updated every four years in accordance with federal requirements. The updated plan identifies existing and projected transportation needs and prioritizes federal investments. The LRTP helps to determine how Federal and State funding will be spent on transportation infrastructure and services in the region.

On August 23, 2023, the NMMPO voted to adopt Envision 2050, which became effective as of October 1, 2023. On September 25, 2024, the NMMPO voted to amend Envision 2050 to update performance measures throughout the plan to reflect the performance measures in place at the time of the plan's publication. The plan as amended can be viewed at the links below.

Read Envision 2050: The Long Range Transportation Plan (PDF) - full document except appendices, digital format; individual chapters may be viewed at the following links:

• Front matter (PDF)
• Executive Summary (PDF)
• Chapter 1: Introduction (PDF)
• Chapter 2: Roles of Agencies (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Demographic Profile (PDF)
• Chapter 4: Transportation Needs Assessment (PDF)
• Chapter 5: Existing Conditions Systems Report (PDF)
• Chapter 6: Funding the Transportation Network (PDF)
• Chapter 7: Recommendations (PDF)
• Appendices (PDF)

Prior Long Range Transportation Plans

To view our previous LRPs, visit the FFY 2020 to 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (PDF). The 2020 to 2040 Plan became effective in October 2020 and remained effective until October 2023.

Performance-Based Planning & Programming

Performance-based planning and programming (PBPP) refers to the application of performance management principles within transportation agencies' planning and programming processes to achieve desired performance outcomes for the multimodal transportation system.

PBPP attempts to ensure that transportation investment decisions are made - both in long-term planning and short-term programming of projects - based on their ability to meet established goals for improving the transportation system. Furthermore, it involves measuring progress toward meeting goals and using information on past and anticipated future performance trends to inform investment decisions.

Transportation planners participate in the performance management process by developing performance measures to address established goals, conducting data analysis and forecasting to determine the future performance of the transportation system, setting performance targets, identifying a plan of action to achieve desired results, tracking progress in achieving the targets, and developing performance reports.

The questions are: Where do we want to go? How are we going to get there? What will it take? And How did we do? Transportation safety can be addressed during the answers to each of the questions.