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On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the NMMPO voted to release Amendment #2 to the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 to 2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Amendment #2 involves the following:
- Project ID #608227: Billerica Yankee Doodle Bike Path Construction (Phase 1): project cost increase of $7,370,699
- Project ID #613876: Billerica Yankee Doodle Bike Path Construction (Phase 2): change in programmed TIP year from 2027 to 2028 and project cost decrease of $528,786
- Project ID #609510: Dracut Improvements at George Englesby Elementary School (SRTS): change in programmed TIP year from 2029 to 2028 and project cost increase of $355,204
- Project ID #RTD0011235: LRTA – Revenue Vehicle Replacement - 35' Hybrids (18): change in programmed TIP year from 2027 to 2026 and cost increase of $2,080,277
The public is invited to comment on this amendment by email to publiccomments@nmcog.org or by mail to NMCOG, 672 Suffolk Street, Suite 100, Lowell, MA 01854 from January 29, 2026 through February 19, 2026. A virtual public hearing will be held as part of the February 25, 2026 NMMPO meeting at 2:00pm. Following the public comment period, the NMMPO will vote on whether to endorse the amendment with consideration to comments received.
Read the Summary Narrative of Amendment 2 to the FFY2026-2030 TIP (PDF).
Previous Public Comment Periods
In 2025, NMCOG led a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) planning process. This economic development planning process was designed to enable the region to become more resilient, prosperous, and competitive. The final plan is called Greater Lowell Stronger Together, as we're dedicated to working regionally to create resilience, improve quality of life, and champion economic growth that fairly benefits all members of the community.
A CEDS is a vital component of establishing and maintaining a robust economic ecosystem by building regional capacity - through hard and soft infrastructure - that contributes to individual, firm, and community success. It provides a vehicle for individuals, organizations, local governments, learning institutes, and private industry to build strategies that will best serve economic development in the region. This planning effort, completed in partnership with Fourth Economy, aims to gather key insights on how the Greater Lowell Region can grow in key areas.
Greater Lowell Stronger Together was open for public comment in June, 2025 and will be finalized pending NMCOG Council approval in July.
Download Greater Lowell Stronger Together Public Comment Draft (PDF, 1599 kb).
NMMPO staff developed a significant update to the NMMPO's 2017 Public Participation Plan. The changes reflect the agency's post-pandemic approach to engagement and address corrective actions identified during the NMMPO Federal Certification Review process. The updated Public Participation Plan is written to an audience of NMCOG and NMMPO staff, municipal staff, and the general population of the region, providing guidance on various tools, methods, and strategies for engaging people in all types of planning the agency leads. Key information on how people can engage in the agency's federally-mandated planning processes and clarity around public comment periods is also provided.
View the endorsed 2025 Public Participation Plan (PDF).
The 45-day public comment period for the Public Participation Plan began on January 22, 2025 and ended on March 8, 2025. The NMMPO heard public and staff comments on the PPP and voted to endorse the updated Plan at their meeting on March 26, 2025.
UPWPs provide a scope of work for MPOs to achieve the regional vision outlined in Metropolitan Transportation Plans (MTPs) in addition to the ongoing planning work of identifying and prioritizing federal aid projects on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The UPWP is a means to coordinate many different planning activities, in order to address transportation planning concerns through a comprehensive planning program. It supports the "3-C" Process: comprehensive, cooperative, continuing transportation planning.
The MPO periodically adjusts the annual Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) to respond to changes in project and planning readiness, staff availability, and other impacts. Amendments to the current year UPWP:
- Amendment 1: At their December 4, 2024 meeting the NMMPO voted to endorse Amendment 1 to the FFY 2025 Unified Planning Work Program. View a summary of Amendment 1 (PDF).
- Amendment 2: At their February 26, 2025 meeting the NMMPO voted to endorse Amendment 2 to the FFY 2025 UPWP. View a summary of Amendment 2 (PDF).
- Amendment 3: At their April 23, 2025 meeting the NMMPO voted to endorse Amendment 3 to the FFY 2025 UPWP. View a summary of Amendment 3 (PDF).
At the May 22, 2024 NMMPO meeting, the Northern Middlesex Metropolitan Planning Organization (NMMPO) voted to release the draft FFY 2025 UPWP document for a public review and comment period through June 12, 2024. The FFY 2025 UPWP was endorsed by the MPO at their June 26, 2024 meeting. The final amended UPWP is posted to the NMCOG website.
On May 28, 2025 the NMMPO voted to endorse the FFY2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program. The final FY2026 to 2030 TIP is posted to Transportation Improvement Program page of this website.
All approved amendments to the current year TIP may be viewed by visiting the Federal Certification Documents page.
On June 25, 2025 the NMMPO voted to endorse Amendment #4 to teh FFY 2025 to 2029 Transportation Improvement Program, subject to no adverse comments being received. As no adverse comments were received, the amendment was passed as of the NMMPO vote.
View a summary of Amendment 4 to the FFY 2025 to 2029 TIP (PDF).
On May 22, 2024, the MPO voted to release the draft Greater Lowell Vision Zero Plan for public review and comment. The public comment period was from May 22 through June 12, 2024, with a hybrid public meeting held on June 5, 2024 to review the plan and hear public comments.
The revised draft of the Greater Lowell Vision Zero Plan will be brought back to the MPO at their July 24, 2024 meeting for evaluation and endorsement. Learn more about the Greater Lowell Vision Zero Plan.
At its February 22, 2023 meeting, the Northern Middlesex MPO voted to release the draft 2023 Title VI Plan for a 21-day public review and comment period, ending on March 17, 2023.
At the June 28, 2023 NMMPO meeting, Northern Middlesex MPO voted to release the draft 2023 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Plan (PDF) for a 21-day public comment period.
On July 28, 2023, the Northern Middlesex MPO opened a public comment period for the draft Envision 2050: The Long-Range Transportation Plan. This period ended on August 17, 2023. Feedback was received via email, a virtual session on August 8, 2023, and by mail to NMCOG, 40 Church Street, Suite 200, Lowell, MA 01854.
Nashua UZA MOU
At their March 26, 2025 meeting, the NMMPO voted to endorse the updated MOU between NMCOG, the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA), the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Nashua Regional Planning Commission Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Metropolitan Planning Organization, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the Nashua Transit System, and the Manchester Transit Authority. The MOU was updated to reflect the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 Decennial Census population information.
Review the updated MOU.