Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects In the
Northern Middlesex Region
Presented By:
David Tilton, NMCOG
Justin Howard, NMCOG
Northern Middlesex Council of
Governments
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NMCOG
Logo
• Formed in 1963 by the enabling legislation of Chapter 40B of
the Massachusetts General Laws
• NMCOG is designated as one of thirteen Regional Planning
Agencies (RPA) in the Commonwealth.
• NMCOG is governed by a policy board made up of a chief
elected official and Planning Board member from the City of
Lowell Massachusetts and eight surrounding suburbs,
including Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell,
Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, and Westford.
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The Northern Middlesex Region
• The Northern Middlesex Region consists of the communities of Billerica,
Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury,
Tyngsborough and Westford.
• The population of the Region is approximately 286,901 people according
to the 2010 Census. Lowell is the most densely populated community
(106,519) while Dunstable is the least populated (3,179).
• The 2006-2010 American Community Survey data for Mode Choice by
Place of Work showed that the majority of the region’s working population
drives alone during their commute (83%).
• 1.9% of the region’s working population walked to work. Lowell had the
highest population commuting by walking at 3.8%.
• 0.1% of the region’s working population commuted to work by bicycle.
Tyngsborough had the highest percentage of bicycle commuters at 0.3%.
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Northern Middlesex
Metropolitan Planning Organization
• NMCOG staff serve as technical staff to the Northern
Middlesex MPO (NMMPO).
– Roles include:
• Coordination with local, state, and federal officials to identify
transportation needs and develop projects, plans, and programs.
• Providing local technical assistance by collecting, analyzing data, and
make recommendations to communities for improvements.
• The NMMPO is the primary decision making body on
transportation funding issues in the region.
– Long Range Transportation Plan
– Transportation Improvement Program
– Unified Planning Work Program
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The Planning and Design Process
• Proposed Projects can be
initiated by:
• The Typical Roadway or Bike/Ped
Project Planning Process:
– MassDOT:
• District Offices 3 & 4 for the
NMCOG Region
• Office of Transportation
Planning
– Municipalities
– Regional Planning Agencies
(RPAs)
– State Legislature
– Federal legislation
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– Problem /Need/Opportunity
Identification: PNF
– Planning Study
– Project Initiation: PIF, Funding,
PRC Action
– Environmental Study/ROW
Process/Design
– Funding Programming (NMMPO)
– Final Design
– Implementation
Project Initiation Process follows
procedures outlined in the MassDOT
Design Guidebook
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Regional Bicycle and
Pedestrian Facilities
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2008 Massachusetts Bicycle
Transportation Plan
•The 2008 MA Bicycle Transportation Plan
continues to promote bicycle
transportation in Massachusetts through
initiatives and policies found within the
Plan. One of the most ambitious initiatives
was the recommendation of the Bay State
Greenway.
•In the NMCOG Region, our two longest
and most popular trails lie along the BSG.
•The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail lies
along the Merrimack River – Charles
River BSG Corridor.
•The Nashua River Rail Trail lies
along the Nashua River – Buzzards
Bay Corridor.
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Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT)
•Extends through the communities of Lowell,
Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord,
Sudbury, and Framingham in Massachusetts -following the 25-mile route of the old New Haven
Railroad Framingham & Lowell line.
•Phase 1 of the project has been constructed and is
open to the public, extending from the Lowell/
Chelmsford line to Rte. 225 in Westford, a distance of
6.8 miles.
•Phase 2, now under design, will extend from the
southern terminus of Phase 1 through Westford,
Carlisle, Acton, Concord and Sudbury, covering a
distance of 13.1 miles.
•Phase 3 will extend through Sudbury and Framingham
for a total of 4.6 miles, completing the trail.
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Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (BFRT)
• The BFRT has been a very popular
trail since opening to the public in
August of 2009. The last trail
count was conducted on
September 18,2012 at 3
Chelmsford locations.
– At Cushing Place: 114 people
either walked, rode, jogged or
skated along the BFRT.
– At Manahan Street: 127 trail
users were counted.
– At Pond Street: 104 people
used the trail on the day of
the count.
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Nashua River Rail Trail –Pepperell and
Dunstable
• 12.5 mile paved, multi-use rail trail.
• Begins in Ayer and follows along the
Nashua River through Groton,
Pepperell and Dunstable, ending in
Nashua, NH.
• The trailhead in Ayer offers access to
commuter rail service between
Boston and Fitchburg.
• The trail is built along the site of the
former Hollis branch of the Boston
and Maine Corp railroad.
• The Hollis Branch was purchased by
the DCR in 1987, and MassHighway
completed the trail between 2001
and 2002. The Nashua River Rail Trail
was officially opened and dedicated
on October 25, 2002.
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Concord River Greenway – Lowell
• 1.75 mile multi-purpose trail extending
along the eastern bank of the Concord
River.
• Connects Lowell’s largest parks, Rogers
Fort Hill Park and Shedd Park.
• The north and south ends of the CRG
are complete and plans are being
discussed to bridge the gap and
complete the walkway along the banks
of the Concord River.
• One alternative being considered would
have the Concord River Greenway cross
over to the west side of the Concord
River between Centennial Island and
Rogers Street, and then cross back to
the east side of the river at an
undetermined location.
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City of Lowell
The City of Lowell has added
bicycle lanes and shared lane
markings (sharrows) to 17 City
streets.
•Bicycle lane locations and
lengths:
•Varnum Ave – 14,000 ft
•Andover St – 7,000 ft
•Broadway St – 1,400 ft
•Merrimack St – 1,400 ft
•Chelmsford St – 2,400 ft
•Boylston St – 5,400 ft
•Rogers St – 3,500 ft
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City of Lowell
• Sharrow locations and lengths:
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Gorham/ Central St – 11,500 ft
Chelmsford St – 7,100 ft
High St – 3,100 ft
Andover St – 750 ft
E Merrimack St/ Kearney Sq/
Merrimack St – 5,000 ft
Broadway St – 5,200 ft
Fletcher St – 4,100 ft
Pawtucket St – 5,000 ft
Arcand Dr – 700 ft
French St – 1,800 ft
Wilder St – 1,200 ft
Westford St – 11,000 ft
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Lowell National Historical Park –
Historical Canals and Walkways
•The Lowell National Historical Park
(LNHP), through the Canalway Plan, has
been developing pedestrian walkways
along its extensive canal network.
•Numerous walking trails have been
incorporated into the urban landscape,
providing access to points through out
the City, while educating trail users
about the history of Lowell and the
mills.
•The LNHP has approximately 12
walkways either completed or in various
stages of design throughout the City.
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Proposed Bicycle and
Pedestrian Facilities
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Yankee Doodle Bikeway – Billerica
• If completed, the Yankee
Doodle Bikeway, would begin
near Billerica High on Route 3A
and extend south, connecting
to the northern edge of the
Minuteman Bikeway and the
Narrow Gauge Rail Trail.
• The estimated cost of this
project is $4 – $6 million
dollars.
• The Town is working to secure
the right-of-way for the
project.
• Design has not yet
commenced.
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River Meadow Brook – Lowell: Plain Street
to Howard Street.
•NMCOG, the City and the Lowell Parks
and Conservation Trust are studying
the feasibility of constructing a multiuse trail along the River Meadow
Brook, as well as establishing a trail to
connect the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
to the Concord River Greenway.
•The River Meadow Brook multi-use
trail would be located between the
Lowell Connector and the bank of the
Brook, and would extend from Plain
Street to Howard Street.
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River Meadow Brook – Lowell: Linking Bruce
Freeman Rail Trail to the Concord River
Greenway
• In addition to the multi-modal
trail along the banks of the River
Meadow Brook, NMCOG is
investigating the feasibility of
creating a link between the
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail with
the Concord River Greenway.
• Two routes outlined by the
Lowell Parks and Conservation
Trust were explored.
• In addition, a third alternative
route was identified by NMCOG
staff.
• This link would be a part of the
larger Bay Circuit Trail
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Merrimack River Trail
• In 2011, the Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission in cooperation
with the Essex National Heritage Area
and NMCOG, undertook a
preliminary assessment of available
ROW along the Merrimack River.
• Envisioned as a long distance nonmotorized, multi-modal scenic trail.
• Communities include Tyngsborough,
Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell,
Tewksbury, Andover, Methuen,
Lawrence, N. Andover, Haverhill,
Merrimac, Groveland, W. Newbury,
Amesbury, Salisbury, Newburyport
and Newbury.
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Middlesex Canal Towpath Trail Billerica
• The Middlesex Canal was the
first canal built for commercial
use in the United States.
• Historically, the Canal extended
27 miles from Charlestown to
Lowell.
• The intent of the Middlesex
Canal restoration project is to
preserve and restore remaining
sections of the canal.
• A trail network is being planned
along the towpath of the canal,
with design work being
advanced on the section of the
canal adjacent to the Concord
River/ Mill Pond area of North
Billerica.
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Studies Containing
Multimodal Improvements
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Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
• NMCOG is currently
undertaking a regional plan to
ensure bicycling and walking
are safe and convenient modes
of travel to work, school,
shopping, and recreation.
• Preparing a survey to inquire
needs of communities.
• Plan is to inventory current
facilities, assess walkability and
rideability of roadway network,
make recommendations for
improvements or additional
facilities.
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Westford Center Study
• At the request of the town
of Westford, NMCOG is
studying traffic and
parking conditions and
needs within the Center.
• One goal of the study is to
improve pedestrian
connectivity throughout
the area.
• NMCOG will also be
evaluating safety
conditions within the area.
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Chelmsford Center Study
• At the request of Chelmsford,
NMCOG will conduct a
parking utilization, bicycle
and pedestrian study of the
Town Center.
• The study will make
recommendations to
improve access to parking,
and bicycle and pedestrian
facilities in the Town Center.
• NMCOG will assess existing
conditions, evaluate parking
turnover, conduct bicycle/
pedestrian counts as well as
analyzing bicycle and
pedestrian related crash
data.
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Programs Promoting Bicycle and
Pedestrian Safety and Travel
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NMCOG Highway Safety Program
– Identification of Bicycle and Pedestrian
Crash Hotspots
– Working with MassDOT and the local
communities to conduct Road Safety
Audits taking a “Complete Streets”
approach to improvements
– Current RSA projects now under design:
• VFW Highway at Bridge Street Intersection in
Lowell
• Four intersections along Route 38 in Lowell
• East Street at Shawsheen Street in Tewksbury
• Minot’s Corner in Westford – advertised
September 2012
• East Street at Livingston Street in Tewksbury –
Construction complete with new Traffic Signal
and ADA compliant sidewalks.
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Transportation Improvement Program
• Projects with bicycle and pedestrian
accommodations currently programmed:
• Reconstruction of Arlington Street in
Dracut – 2013/2014
• New University Avenue Bridge
Construction - 2014
• VFW Highway at Bridge St – 2014
• Route 38 in Lowell – 4 Intersection
improvements – 2014
• Reconstruction of Allen Rd in
Billerica – 2015
• East St. at Shawsheen St. in
Tewksbury – 2016
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Safe Routes To School Program (SRTS)
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The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School
(SRTS) program promotes healthy
alternatives for children and parents in
their travel to and from school. It educates
students, parents and community
members on the value of walking and
bicycling for travel to and from school.
The NMCOG Region has 3 communities
and 8 schools participating.
Chelmsford: Byam Elementary, Center
Elementary, Harrington Elementary and
South Row Elementary.
Dracut: Greenmont Ave School.
Lowell: Abraham Lincoln School, McAuliffe
Elementary and Moody Elementary.
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Methods for Addressing Multimodal
Accommodation.
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Engineering
• Description:
– The creation of operational and physical improvements to
infrastructure to encourage bicycle and pedestrian activities as well as
making those activities safer.
• Initiatives:
– GreenDOT - Initiative to achieve reduction of greenhouse gases, promotion of
walking, bicycling and public transit as healthy transportation options, and
support smart growth
– Complete Streets - all MassDOT construction projects must consider
accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists.
– Accelerated Bridge Program – must consider improvements to pedestrian and
bicycle accommodations on targeted structurally deficient bridges.
– Road Safety Audits – working with MassDOT and local communities to conduct
Road Safety Audit to ensure a “Complete Streets” approach to improvements.
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Education
• Description:
– Bicycle and pedestrian safety education aims to teach
bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists how to share the
road.
• Initiatives:
– Safe Routes to Schools – teaching children and parents about bicycle
and pedestrian safety and transportation alternatives.
– MassBike – Bike Safety Education programs
– WalkBoston – Walkable Communities workshops, walkability
assessments, Snow clearance methods
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Encouragement
• Description:
– Promotion of healthy transportation alternatives.
• Initiatives:
– In 2011-2012 NMCOG received a Community Transformation Grant
(CDC funding) to study trail connections in Lowell and encourage
healthier lifestyles.
– Bay State Bike Week – annual event that promotes bicycling as a
healthier form of transportation as well as recreational travel.
– Moving Together – an annual statewide walking and bicycling
conference put on by MassDOT and the GreenDOT program, that
focuses on promoting alternative forms of transportation.
– NuRide – Rewards program for taking greener trips in Massachusetts
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Enforcement
• Description:
– The enforcement of traffic laws pertaining to safe bicycling and
walking practices. This can include: speed enforcement, yielding to
pedestrians in crosswalks as well as proper walking and bicycling
behaviors.
• Initiatives:
– Same Roads. Same Rules. – A guide for safer bicycling and driving with bicycle
safety in mind on Massachusetts roads. This program has been implemented
by MassBike in partnership with: Massachusetts Department of
Transportation, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Department of
Public Health and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
– Executive Office of Public Safety – MA State and Local Police Training and
Grant Programs
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Evaluation
• Description:
– Monitoring outcomes and documenting trends through data
collection as well as evaluating bicycle and pedestrian programs.
• Initiatives:
– GreenDOT – greenhouse gas reductions, air quality tools
– Bicycle Facility Data – online bicycle mapping tool developed by
MassDOT and incorporated into the Roadway Inventory
Database to be updated annually
– Massachusetts Crash Database System – Documents pedestrian
and bicycle crash hotspots comparisons over multiple years.
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Comments, Questions and Contacts
• David Tilton, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
dtilton@nmcog.org – (978) 454 -8021 ext. 17
• Justin Howard, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
jhoward@nmcog.org – (978) 454 -8021 ext. 21
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