Lowell Regional Transit Authority
{{short description|Massachusetts, US non-profit public transportation organization}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Lowell Regional Transit Authority
| logo = File:LRTA logo.png
| logo_size = 250
| image = LRTA bus at Lowell terminal, December 2018.jpg
| image_caption = An LRTA bus at the Robert B. Kennedy Bus Transfer Center in December 2018
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| founded = 1974
| headquarters = 145 Thorndike St.
| locale = Lowell, Massachusetts
| service_area = Greater Lowell
| service_type = Bus service, paratransit
| alliance =
| routes = 20
| destinations = Andover, Lowell, Chelmsford, Billerica, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Burlington, Dracut, Tyngsborough, Westford, Littleton
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet = Gillig, Cutaway Vans
| ridership =
| operator = First Transit
| ceo =
| website = [http://www.lrta.com/ lrta.com]
}}
The Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) is a public, non-profit organization in Massachusetts, charged with providing public transportation to the Greater Lowell area. This primarily includes the city of Lowell and the towns of Andover, Billerica, Burlington, Dracut, Chelmsford, Littleton, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Westford and Wilmington. The LRTA provides fixed route bus services and paratransit services within this area, although some fixed lines do extend beyond these towns.{{cite web|url=http://www.firsttransit.com/FirsttransitView.php?id=107 |title=Lowell Regional Transit Authority (Fixed Route) |publisher=First Transit |accessdate=2008-05-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105140329/http://www.firsttransit.com/FirsttransitView.php?id=107 |archivedate=November 5, 2007 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.lrta.com/para.html | publisher = Lowell Regional Transit Authority | title = LRTA Paratransit Services | accessdate = 2008-05-07}}
The LRTA was created in September 1974 under Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws, the law that impacts all transit authorities in the state of Massachusetts. Since 2004, operation of the LRTA has been subcontracted to First Transit, a subsidiary of the United Kingdom based FirstGroup.{{cite web|url=http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/chap196/MBTAreport.pdf |title=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Regional Transit Authorities Coordination and Efficiencies Report |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation |accessdate=2008-05-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527214328/https://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/chap196/MBTAreport.pdf |archivedate=2008-05-27 }}
The area served by the LRTA is within the commuter rail service area of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). At the Gallagher Transit Terminal in Lowell, LRTA buses provide connection to each other, to trains on MBTA's Lowell Line, and to various intercity bus routes.{{cite web|url=http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/chap196/MBTAreport.pdf |title=Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Regional Transit Authorities Coordination and Efficiencies Report |publisher=Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation |accessdate=2008-05-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527214328/https://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/chap196/MBTAreport.pdf |archivedate=2008-05-27 }}
Routes
All of the routes serve Monday through Friday and most provide Saturday service. All routes originate at the LRTA Gallagher Terminal in Lowell.
Fleet
The LRTA owns a fleet of 108 revenue-producing vehicles, which includes 57 Gillig Low Floor buses for scheduled route service and 49 Ford Transit and 2 Ford E450 minibuses for paratransit service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/overview-of-the-lowell-regional-transit-authority#vehicle-fleet-and-service-route-area-|title=Overview of the Lowell Regional Transit Authority|website=Mass.Gov|publisher=Office of the State Auditor|date=23 July 2018|access-date=9 January 2021}}
Gallery
File:LRTA route 12 bus in Wilmington, July 2020.jpg|An LRTA route 12 bus in Wilmington
File:LRTA route 14 bus at Burlington Mall, November 2018.jpg|LRTA route 14 bus at Burlington Mall
File:LRTA route 3 bus at North Billerica station, July 2015.JPG|LRTA route 3 bus at North Billerica station in 2015
File:Robert B. Kennedy Bus Terminal, August 2012.JPG|Three LRTA buses stopped at the Robert B. Kennedy Bus Terminal
File:LRTA green bus; door closed; Lowell, MA; 2011-12-08.JPG|An LRTA trolley-replica bus on route 9
File:LRTA minibus March 2021.jpg|An LRTA minibus in Maynard, Massachusetts
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.lrta.com/ LRTA official website]
{{Massachusetts transit agencies}}
Category:1974 establishments in Massachusetts
Category:Bus transportation in Massachusetts
Category:Government agencies established in 1974