Transportation Planning
Federal Certification Documents
3C Process
The 3C planning process (Continuing, Comprehensive, and Cooperative) dates back to the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962.
It is designed to engage the public and stakeholders in establishing shared goals and a vision for the community. Planners use various tools to forecast population trends, employment growth, and projected land use and to identify major transportation needs and opportunities for investment.
This process requires planners to establish existing conditions and needs, review available funding resources, establish transportation performance measure targets and goals, and develop strategies to meet the goals. The information is documented in the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and Long Range Regional Transportation Plans (LRTP). The Performance-Based Planning Process (PBPP) provides tools to establish system performance targets based on informed investment decisions, which are documented in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) at the State level and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at the MPO level.
Performance-Based Planning and 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.
Performance-based transportation planning process.
Public Participation Plan (PPP)
Public involvement is a key component of the transportation planning process. To ensure the public’s needs and preferences are considered in the planning process, State DOTs and MPOs must document public and stakeholder engagement in transportation planning. State DOTs must document the process for Statewide engagement of the public and interested agencies and organizations. Public involvement should be coordinated with MPOs and RTPOs, when relevant. MPOs prepare Public Participation Plans (PPP), which describe how the MPO involves the public and stakeholder communities in transportation planning.
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is a one-year budget and planning document that lists the research projects, technical assistance, and other activities the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board will undertake over the next federal fiscal year (FFY). These projects provide insight and recommendations to our municipal and regional partners, generate new data, and help shape the region’s future transportation concepts.
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
When submitting a Transportation Improvement Program to the state for inclusion in the statewide program, MPOs self-certify that they have met all federal requirements.The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is a list of projects prepared yearly by The Office of Transportation Planning. The list includes projects such as:
Bicycle Paths
Bridges
Roadways
Sidewalks
Transit Investments
The STIP is a combined effort between MassDOT and many state agencies that work together to design and build highways and transit projects.
*The Federal Fiscal Year occurs from October 1 of one calendar year through September 30 of the next.
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.
Read Envision 2050: The Long Range Transportation Plan (full document except appendices, digital format; individual chapters may be viewed below)
Prior Long Range Transportation Plans
To view our previous LRPs, visit the FFY 2020-2040 Regional Transportation Plan below. The 2020-2040 Plan became effective in October 2020 and remained effective until October 2023.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Each Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is required, under 49 U.S.C. 5303(j), to develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Annually a list of upcoming transportation projects—covering a period of at least four years is created by MPOs. The TIP must be developed in cooperation with the state and public transit providers. The TIP should include capital and non-capital surface transportation projects, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and other transportation enhancements, Federal Lands Highway projects, and safety projects included in the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The TIP should include all regionally significant projects receiving FHWA or FTA funds or for which FHWA or FTA approval is required, in addition to non-federally funded projects consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). Furthermore, the TIP must be fiscally constrained. For more information, please visit.
Draft FFY 2024-2028 TIP
On April 24, 2024 the Northern Middlesex MPO approved the release of the draft 2025-2029 TIP for public review and comment.
View the Draft FFY 2024-2028 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment 3.
Public Comment Period: April 24, 2024, to May 16, 2024
Virtual Public Meeting: May 15, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
How to Submit Comments:
Email: publiccomments@nmcog.org
Mail: NMCOG, 672 Suffolk Street, Suite 100, Lowell, MA 01854
The MPO board will review comments and vote to endorse the TIP on May 22, 2024. This is an important opportunity for public participation and input into our region’s transportation planning. We encourage stakeholders and community members to attend the virtual public meetings and provide feedback.
Current and Prior TIP
Federal Fiscal Year 2024 - 2028
Final Endorsed FFY 2024-2028 TIP Amendments 1 and 2
Federal Fiscal Year 2023 - 2027
Federal Fiscal Year 2022 - 2026