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

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.  

Individuals and organizations were 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. Comments were sought pertaining to the transportation planning processes, public involvement procedures, evaluation of transportation air quality impacts, the regional transportation plan, and transportation improvement program. The 60 day public comment period closed September 24, 2020. The 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. 

In addition to the public comment period, a virtual public meeting was held on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. This meeting began with a brief introductory presentation by USDOT representatives. Following the presentation, participants were 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 were in attendance.