Public participation is an important part of government decisions affecting many aspects of our lives. The Regional Planning Commission believes that having people participate in its work can help to accomplish positive things and give people a voice.

The Commission updated its Public Participation Plan in 2016 including two plan appendices described below. The plan outlines how the Commission plans to achieve public participation in its regional planning and programming efforts. The Commission also prepared a brochure to help simplify and condense the contents of the Public Participation Plan.

• Appendix A focuses specifically on the public participation activities to be used in the Commission's transportation planning and programming. As the regional planning agency and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation planning for Southeastern Wisconsin, the Commission has the responsibility to undertake continuing public participation and outreach efforts, with specific Federal requirements pertaining to public participation for transportation planning and programming. This appendix provides further detail on those activities, including public meetings and comment periods, and contains measures to be used in the evaluation of the Public Participation Plan.

• Appendix B describes the Commission's regional transportation consultation process. This appendix summarizes how the Commission proposes to coordinate with governmental agencies and officials and others in its transportation planning and programming efforts. This valuable consultation is conducted primarily through Commission advisory committees, task forces on key issues, work with community partners, and consulting with numerous minority and low-income groups.

The plan is based on the Commission's three-part goal to:

• Ensure early and continuous public notification about regional planning
• Provide meaningful information concerning regional planning; and
• Obtain participation and input to regional planning

Public Comment Opportunities
2020 Certification Review

PUBLIC VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE AND COMMENT ON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN

All individuals and organizations are invited to comment on the regional transportation planning carried out by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, local transit agencies, and local units of government in the greater Milwaukee area.  

Under Federal law, the Regional Planning Commission serves as the metropolitan planning organization for the Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, and West Bend urbanized areas, and the Wisconsin portion of the Round Lake Beach urbanized area.  In coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, local transit operators, and local units of government in the Southeastern Wisconsin area, the Commission is responsible for conducting a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning program in accordance with provisions of Federal Law.  The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway and Transit Administrations are conducting a planning certification review of the metropolitan transportation planning process conducted in Southeastern Wisconsin.  This review is conducted every four years. Public comments received will be incorporated in the review and considered together with other USDOT oversight activities to determine if the transportation planning process meets applicable requirements of Federal transportation law.

Comments are sought pertaining to the transportation planning processes, public involvement procedures, evaluation of transportation air quality impacts, the regional transportation plan, and transportation improvement program. Public comment can be provided by the following:

• Virtual Public Meeting is being held Tuesday, August 25, 2020, starting at 6:00 pm -  This meeting will begin with a brief introductory presentation by USDOT representatives. Following the presentation, participants will be permitted to provide written or oral comment in real time. In addition to US DOT staff, representatives of the SEWRPC Commissioners and staff, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and area transit operators will be in attendance of the meeting.

Those interested in participating in the meeting will need to register in advance:

REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL MEETING HERE

Individuals without internet access can register by calling the Commission’s office Monday-Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm at 262-953-3252.

• Written Comments – Comments may be submitted to USDOT staff no later than September 24, 2020, by mail, fax, or e-mail to:

Planning Certification Review
Federal Highway Administration
525 Junction Rd, Suite 8000
Madison, WI 53717
Fax:  608-662-2121
E-mail:  Michael.Batuzich@dot.gov

Public Involvement and Outreach

The Division of Public Involvement and Outreach works with other SEWRPC divisions, and directly with the public.

Some of the outreach techniques used in public participation include study newsletters and fact sheets, brochures with condensed content, presentations and briefings whenever and wherever convenient for groups, ongoing comment opportunities, and public meetings scheduled early in the planning process and at multiple junctures. Announcements to the general public and interested parties occur by newsletters and other direct mailings, email notices, news releases, paid advertisements, and SEWRPC website postings.

Most of these products and events also contain a component particularly intended to benefit minority populations and low-income populations, for example, scheduling public meetings at minority neighborhood centers and in central city locations accessible by public transit. As well, Public Involvement and Outreach staff personally contact minority, low-income, and central city neighborhood organizations to provide tailored messages and alternatives for individual meetings. Important suggestions for these processes are provided by the Commission's Environmental Justice Task Force and the advisory committees that help to guide each planning effort.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a
briefing or presentation, please contact:

Nikki N. Payne
Public Involvement & Outreach Manager
262-953-3210
npayne@sewrpc.org