Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) toured a new bus purchased by the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) to mark its return to full service on August 31^st. During the tour, Trahan highlighted the $4,976,013 in federal funding from two separate grants for bus and bus facility upgrades, which was used to pay for the new buses, and for COVID-19 relief.

“As someone who grew up in Lowell and relied on buses to get around, I know that the Lowell Regional Transit Authority is a critical service for so many working families and students in the Greater Lowell area. The LRTA’s decision to return to full service while maintaining safety precautions will be good for residents who rely on public transportation, transit workers looking to do their jobs safely, and small businesses across the region who rely on customers traveling to their establishments. I’m proud of the work that my office has done to support the LRTA through substantial federal investments that will go a long way toward providing Lowell residents with high quality, state-of-the-art, and fuel efficient public transportation,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan.

"On behalf of the LRTA, its advisory board, employees and the riding public, we are very happy to receive this major grant award. The award will continue the LRTA's efforts to provide a first-class vehicle fleet and state-of-the-art facilities. We are very fortunate for all the support of Congresswoman Trahan for making this award possible,” said LRTA Administrator Jim Scanlan.

To keep drivers and passengers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, LRTA’s bus service had been operating in a limited capacity since April. Buses were running on an extended Saturday schedule from Monday through Saturday, and passengers were asked to board through the rear door, wear a mask, and maintain social distancing from each other and the driver. Sunday service was also suspended. 

Yesterday marked the first day since the changes were implemented this spring that LRTA has resumed full service Monday through Saturday. The Sunday Service Pilot Program will resume on Sunday, September 13^th. Additionally, while passengers are no longer required to enter from the back of the bus, they are still required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

To mark the return to full service, Trahan toured a newly acquired bus set to be put into service where she heard from Administrator Scanlan and LRTA employees about what protocols are being put into place to keep bus operators and passengers safe. During the tour, Trahan and Scanlan emphasized the importance of two federal grants recently awarded to LRTA totaling nearly $5 million.

Buses and Bus Facilities Grant:

In August, the LRTA was awarded $4,620,000 through the FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program, which makes federal resources available to states and local regional transportation authorities to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. 

The funding, which the LRTA had to apply for, will pay for eight 30-foot buses, six low cutaway buses, and five new maintenance lifts in the Hale Street maintenance facility. The LRTA already has the most modern bus fleet in Massachusetts among the 15 regional transit authorities, and these new purchases will further solidify that standard.

Trahan authored a letter in March to the FTA supporting the LRTA’s application for this grant funding. She cited the Authority’s “sterling record of serving the needs of the Greater Lowell region by providing convenient, comfortable, safe, reliable, cost-effective mobility services that contribute to the ever-growing economy of the region.” A digital copy of the support letter can be accessed HERE.

CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Grant:

In May, the LRTA was awarded $356,013 in CARES Act funding through the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) to offset the net cost of services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including: fixed route, paratransit and costs to maintain and operate commuter rail parking facilities serving the Greater Lowell area.

Trahan voted for the CARES Act in late March, which provided $25 billion to public transit operators across the nation to protect public health and safety while ensuring that transportation access to jobs, medical treatment, food, and other essential services remain available during the COVID-19 response. The revenues that sustain this essential service have been severely impacted due to a reduction in fare box revenue and dedicated sales taxes. This increased federal investment was supported on a bipartisan basis to help sustain more than 430,000 transit jobs and preserve access to this public service and critical workforce that are the backbone of communities’ COVID-19 prevention, response, and recovery efforts.

Additional Background:

Trahan has been a strong supporter of the LRTA during her time in Congress. Shortly after the LRTA launched the Sunday Service Pilot Program last summer, she successfully advocated to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to support the program and the LRTA’s grant application for an additional 12 months of Sunday service. MassDOT awarded $335,328 in January to continue the pilot program.

She also supported passage of the Heroes Act, a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package that delivers on the needs of working families, frontline heroes responding to the public health crisis, and local governments struggling to keep first responders and essential workers on payroll. Similar to the measure supported by Democrats and Republicans in the CARES Act, this legislation contains another $15.75 billion in transit emergency relief, which the LRTA would be eligible to receive a portion of.

The Heroes Act remains stalled in the Senate without a vote despite calls for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring it up for a vote. The Senate has not held a vote on a coronavirus relief package since late April.

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