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

Get Involved

We invite you to participate in planning for the future of our region.

Planning for needs like efficient highways and public transit systems, beneficial parks and open spaces, major land use changes and employment centers, and a quality environment including clean water cannot be done well without working together. These and other needs require a multi-county planning effort and benefit from the participation of many people.

This homepage highlights many of SEWRPC’s efforts and identifies pathways to participation through opportunities like public meetings, public review and comment periods, and planning studies underway.  Please take a few moments to navigate the links to particular work efforts and events for a more detailed look at what is happening and how to learn more or comment.

To help guide public participation, SEWRPC has prepared a public participation plan, summary brochure, and companion documents which are available by clicking on the link below.  These address the importance of public participation to regional planning, the Commission’s public participation goal, and important steps that are taken for involvement opportunities in all of our efforts. 

Please let us hear from you!   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 and Comment Period on Proposed Amendments to the 2011-2014 Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

SEWRPC is soliciting comments on ten proposed amendments to the “Transportation Improvement Program for Southeastern Wisconsin: 2011-2014”. One of the ten amendments would revise a project currently in the TIP.  The remaining nine proposed amendments represent the addition of new projects to the TIP. A public review and comment period will be held through Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Select the following link to view the proposed amendments to the TIP, and for information on how to comment on the amendments.

Lake Parkway Extension Study

SEWRPC recently conducted a study of a potential six-mile extension of the Lake Parkway (State Trunk Highway 794) from its current end point at Edgerton Avenue to State Trunk Highway 100 in Milwaukee County. The study was prepared at the request of Milwaukee County and the Cities of Cudahy, Oak Creek, St. Francis, and South Milwaukee, and was guided by an Advisory Committee composed primarily of elected officials. Following review of public comment received on its preferred design, the Advisory Committee made a final recommendation that the Lake Parkway be extended from Edgerton Avenue to State Trunk Highway 100. The Advisory Committee further recommended that SEWRPC add the Lake Parkway extension to the regional transportation system plan, and recommended that upon addition of a Lake Parkway extension to the regional transportation system plan, Milwaukee County and each of the concerned and affected local governments request that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation conduct the necessary preliminary engineering and environmental impact studies for a Lake Parkway extension.

More information on the study, including the final study report, can be accessed here.

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

"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