About ATRC
What is ATRC?
The Androscoggin Transportation Resource Center (ATRC) is responsible for planning the transportation system for the Greater Lewiston-Auburn Area. Known as a Metropolitan Planning Organization, ATRC was established by federal requirement of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962 and designated to serve the urbanized area of Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon, and Sabattus. As a regional hub for businesses, services and community life, the ATRC Region is home to 70,000 residents and 37,000 jobs.
Who is ATRC?
ATRC is comprised of a Policy Committee of elected and appointed officials from the Cities of Lewiston and Auburn, the Towns of Lisbon and Sabattus, the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG), as well as the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA), Western Maine Transportation Services, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), and the federal funding agencies of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). A Technical Committee made up of transportation planners, engineers, advocates and service providers make recommendations to the Policy Committee on technical matters. Members of the Policy and Technical Committees are appointed by their respective municipalities.
The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) provides professional staffing to the ATRC committees.
What is ATRC responsible for?
ATRC is responsible for planning the surface transportation network, including principal and minor arterials, collector roads, bridges, rail, public transit, and facilities for biking and walking. Short and long-range improvements are outlined in the following documents:
Long Range Transportation Plan
The current plan looks to define what the region's transportation system will look like in 20 years - 2040. The plan considers projected growth in population, employment, and residential and commercial development as the basis for new policies and projects to facilitate all modes of transportation, including roads and highways, rail, public transit, and biking and walking. The Long Range Plan will be updated in 2022.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
The TIP is a capital improvement program developed every two years in cooperation with the Maine Department of Transportation. This program results in a prioritized list of transportation projects that are submitted for federal, state and local funding, such as road resurfacing and reconstruction. Candidate projects are submitted by the member communities, and ranked through a technical scoring/project prioritization process.
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
ATRC also provides a UPWP on a biennial basis, which identifies the work to be accomplished by the staff, and planning studies requested by member communities. In the past, the work program has included studies of major highway corridors, parking demand and supply, truck routes, traffic signal coordination, and traffic impact on new development as well as local assistance in traffic reviews and studies.