Welcome

The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) is the official metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and regional planning commission (RPC) for the seven county southeastern Wisconsin area.  SEWRPC was created in 1960 to provide the basic information and planning services necessary to solve problems which transcend the corporate boundaries and fiscal capabilities of the local units of government comprising the Southeastern Wisconsin Region. For 50 years SEWRPC has provided such information and planning services needed to solve problems and provide focus and attention on key issues of regional consequence. more

SEWRPC Announces publication of the “MASTER PLANNERS: Fifty Years of Regional Planning in Southeastern Wisconsin: 1960-2010” by Paul G. Hayes

To help guide its future by reviewing and learning from its past, and to commemorate its 50th anniversary, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) commissioned Paul G. Hayes to write a history of the first fifty years of the Commission’s existence.

The book is available for $29, plus shipping and tax. Please call the SEWRPC office or e-mail historybook@sewrpc.org to order a copy. A newsletter and brochure have been prepared to provide an introduction to the book. more

Current Major Work Efforts

Regional Housing Plan

Work has begun on a regional housing plan which will address the availability, location, and density of housing, including affordable housing.  The distribution of jobs in the region will be an important consideration in the preparation of this plan.                                  more

Regional Water Supply Study

The regional water supply plan has been completed and adopted by the Commission. more

The socio-economic impact (SEI) analysis of the preliminary recommended regional water supply plan is also complete.  The SEI analysis was prepared by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development (UWM-CED).  The Commission's Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) reviewed and discussed the SEI analysis.  One remaining issue  identified by the EJTF was whether or not cost differences between Waukesha water supply alternatives would have any differential socio-economic impacts.  The UWM-CED analyzed that issue and has found that "it appears unlikely at this time that the difference in overall cost between the Lake Michigan option and a groundwater option would result in significant socio-economic impacts."  Following the additional analysis by the CED, the EJTF accepted the SEI analysis report.  The results of the SEI are incorporated in the regional water supply plan and the SEI report summary and conclusions chapter is included as an appendix in the water supply plan report.

Jurisdictional Highway Plans

SEWRPC is currently preparing updates to the county jurisdictional highway system plans. The plans would provide a review and reevaluation, and recommendations as to which level and agency of government—state, county, and local—should have jurisdictional responsibilities for each segment of arterial street and highway in the Region. The new county jurisdictional highway system plans would constitute a refinement and amemdment of the functional improvements—new arterial facilities and widening of existing facilities—recommended in the year 2035 regional transportation plan. More on the jurisdictional highway plans can be found here.

Regional Natural Areas Plan Update

The Regional Natural Areas Plan Update documents an amendment to the Natural Areas and Critical Species Habitat Protection and Management Plan for the Southeastern Wisconsin Region. more

  Notices & News

Public Review Period for Public Participation Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin 

SEWRPC is soliciting comment on a proposed public participation plan to be followed in the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s regional planning and programming efforts. A public review and comment period will be held through March 4, 2012.  The public participation plan outlines how the Commission proposes to achieve public participation in its regional planning. The plan was developed based on the Commission’s goal to ensure early and continuous public notification about its regional planning activities, and in so doing, provide meaningful information with opportunities to achieve participation and input. Also available for comment is an appendix to the plan focusing on the public participation activities to be used in the Commission’s transportation planning and programming which provides further detail with respect to public meetings and comment periods, and contains measures to be used in the evaluation of the public participation plan. In addition, a draft of the Commission’s regional transportation consultation process is available for public comment which summarizes how the Commission would coordinate with governmental agencies and officials and others in its transportation planning and programming efforts.

Select the following link to view drafts of the updated public participation plan with appendix, a brochure summarizing the plan, and the consultation process, and for information on how to comment on the draft documents. 

New Origin and Destination Travel Survey in Southeastern Wisconsin

SEWRPC is conducting an origin and destination travel survey for the seven-county southeastern Wisconsin Region in 2011 and 2012. The survey is conducted once every ten years in conjunction with the U.S. Census. The survey is funded by the U.S. and Wisconsin Departments of Transportation. The information obtained from the survey will be used to estimate the current travel habits and patterns of the resident population of the Region, identify trends in those travel habits and patterns, and assist in the development of mathematical models to project future travel behavior in the Region. SEWRPC is the area-wide planning agency for infrastructure for the Region and transportation system planning is a major element of its regional planning responsibilities. The travel survey information is vital to the proper planning of the highway and transit systems in southeastern Wisconsin. Similar large-scale origin and destination surveys of travel characteristics and patterns in the Region were previously conducted in 1963, 1972, 1991, and 2001. more

2010 Census Data

Population and household data from the 2010 census is now available for Wisconsin.  SEWRPC has prepared summary tables for the counties and communities in the region.  more 
 

Other Studies Underway

Lake Parkway Extension Study

At the request of Milwaukee County, SEWRPC is conducting a study of the extension of the Lake Parkway.  This study will propose and evaluate alternatives for the Lake Parkway extension. more

"Smart Growth" Comprehensive Planning

SEWRPC works with county and local governments to meet the Wisconsin comprehensive planning requirements commonly called “Smart Growth.” Educational material attendant to this law may be found here. The following links will take you directly to material about multi-jurisdictional comprehensive planning: Kenosha County, Ozaukee County, Racine County, Walworth County, Washington County, and Waukesha County.

TIP 2011-2014

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Southeastern Wisconsin is now available.  The TIP is a listing of Federally funded transportation projects proposed for Southeastern Wisconsin 2011-2014. more

Root River Watershed Restoration Plan

 In response to a request from Racine County, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc., and the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network, SEWRPC is preparing a restoration plan for the Root River watershed. This plan will build from the 2007 SEWRPC regional water quality management plan update for the greater Milwaukee watersheds providing specific, targeted recommendations to address, water quality, recreational use and access, habitat conditions, and flooding within the watershed. more

Menomonee River Watershed-Based Municipal Stormwater Permit Framework

In response to a request from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust, Inc. (Sweet Water), SEWRPC is providing assistance in the development of a framework for a watershed-based municipal stormwater permit for the Menomonee River watershed. In this approach, permits are structured based on watershed boundaries rather than jurisdictional boundaries. more