Federal Officials Want SEWRPC to Improve Environmental Justice Practices

March 3, 2005

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin commends yesterday’s decision by federal transportation officials to require that the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission do a better job of involving low income and minority communities in regional planning, and to monitor SEWRPC’s implementation of its recommendations. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transportation Administration made the recommendations during the process of certifying SEWRPC as the metropolitan planning organization for Southeast Wisconsin.

“We’re heartened that the federal government seem to be taking environmental justice and civil rights seriously. We’ve been telling SEWRPC for years that these issues are crucial, but they haven’t been listening,” said Karyn Rotker, the ACLU’s Poverty, Race & Civil Liberties Project Attorney.

In its report, the FHWA and FTA said SEWRPC should diversify its advisory committees; enhance outreach to, and participation of, low income and minority communities in regional planning; and take a proactive role in addressing such issues facing low income and minority communities as affordable housing, access to jobs, and community development. The agencies also recommended that SEWRPC evaluate congestion management strategies and look at options other than building or expanding highways.

“Poor people and people of color pay taxes too,” noted Patricia McManus, Executive Director of the Black Health Coalition. “However, there are still times when we do not receive equity in treatment, even when it is federally mandated. We are glad to see the government is finally holding SEWRPC accountable for what it is charged to do.”

“In order for our region to thrive, it is imperative for planners to carefully consider the impact of both race and income,” added Kori Schneider, of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council. “SEWRPC’s role in Comprehensive and Smart Growth Planning for the region gives it the opportunity to undertake efforts to dismantle segregation and barriers to housing choice. Now, hopefully, it will use that power for the good of all the region’s residents.”

“We thank the dozens of individuals, community groups and officials who testified before the FHWA and FTA last fall, during the SEWRPC certification process,” added ACLU attorney Rotker. “Their passionate testimony about being left out of regional planning was key in getting the federal agencies to develop these recommendations.”

The executive summary of the FHWA and FTA’s recommendations is attached; the full report is expected to be released later this month. The ACLU of Wisconsin’s comments regarding SEWPRC’s certification are at:

Read the FHWA and FTA's recommendations (PDF)

Read more on SEWRPC's Certification (PDF)