In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) conducted a Federally required quadrennial certification review of the metropolitan transportation planning process carried out by SEWRPC 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 (WisDOT), 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 2020 certification review is based on routine FHWA and FTA interaction with SEWRPC over the past four years in day-to-day operations; a review of SEWRPC planning products and processes; a virtual review meeting with staff from SEWRPC, WisDOT, and local transit operators held on August 25-26, 2020, a public comment period held through September 24, 2020, and a virtual public meeting on the evening of August 25, 2020. On June 4, 2021, FHWA and FTA issued a joint letter indicating that the Commission's metropolitan planning process was in compliance with Federal planning regulations. The final certification report documents the conclusions of the USDOT review of the Commission metropolitan planning process.