Image by Ed Brennen
Starting in late August, the Lowell Regional Transit Authority will service UMass Lowell's Orange Line between East and North campuses on weekday mornings, while also providing a direct connection to Lowell's commuter rail station.
In the Student Government Association’s annual survey on students’ experiences at UMass Lowell, one request stood out: more predictable transportation service.
Thanks to a new partnership with the Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA), students are getting just that.
Starting on August 25, LRTA Route 20 buses will service UMass Lowell’s Orange Line between East and North campuses on weekday mornings between 7:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., with Transportation Services shuttles picking up the route through 6 p.m.
The fare-free LRTA buses will run on a fixed schedule every half hour, making it easier for East Campus residents to plan their commute to and from classes on North. The buses will run from University Suites to the Olney Science Center on North Campus, with return stops at University Crossing, University Suites and the Tsongas Center.
From there, the Route 20 line will continue to Lowell’s Gallagher Transit Terminal, offering a direct connection between campus and the commuter rail to Boston for the first time.
“We’re excited to partner with the LRTA to improve transportation services for the university community,” says Jon Victorine, assistant vice chancellor for administrative and auxiliary services.
As the university develops the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC) on East Campus, Victorine says the direct connection to and from Lowell’s commuter rail stop could prove beneficial.
“In the future, someone could take the train from Boston to Lowell, hop on the Route 20 bus and be dropped off right at LINC’s front door,” he says. “We’re building towards that goal.”
The LRTA previously serviced the now-retired Yellow Line to the former UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center downtown. If the Orange Line collaboration proves successful, university leaders hope to extend LRTA service to additional shuttle routes and expand hours into the evening.
Image by Ed Brennen
The LRTA's fare-free Route 20 bus will run on a fixed schedule every half hour between East and North campuses, from 7:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“The LRTA runs buses and shuttles all over the city, and we want to leverage that to help us with our existing routes,” says Victorine, who notes that the partnership will help reduce the university’s transportation costs, which approach $1 million annually with its contractor, Beacon Mobility.
LRTA buses offer higher capacity, including standing room, to help reduce crowding during peak hours. They are equipped with GPS tracking and appear in real time on the university’s Live Transit map. Also, unlike UMass Lowell’s shuttle buses, which pause operations during academic breaks, the LRTA’s Route 20 will run year-round.
Transportation Services Director Karina Cruz-Winslow says the new partnership aligns with the university’s sustainability mission.
“In an age where we’re always looking for more sustainable options to be better stewards of the planet, this helps students become more confident using public transportation,” she says. “So, if a student moves to a big city like Boston or New York after graduating, they’ll already know how to navigate public transit.”
The LRTA’s fare-free pilot program, which allows all riders to board any bus for free, is scheduled to expire at the end of September. If it is not renewed, UML students, faculty and staff will still be able to ride any LRTA bus for free by swiping their UCards, with the university covering the fare.
Meanwhile, Transportation Services is developing average travel-time timetables for all shuttle routes and hiring 12 new student drivers this fall to join a team of around 40. The university is also expanding its centralized management of its 115-vehicle fleet and working toward a zero-emissions vehicle mandate under state Executive Order 594.