Shoreland 400 Rail Trail is the National Trail of the Month

 

Senate Bill 596 Becomes Law

Senate Bill 596 includes water trails in the State Trail System as part of the federal government's new "national water trail" designation. The bill will allow the Department of Natural Resources to plan, research, and gather public input on the appropriate use of state trails, including use by hikers, cross-country skiers, equestrians, bicyclists, riders of electric personal assistive mobility devices, snowmobilers, or in-line skaters. Senator Luther Olsen (R- Ripon) and Representative Al Ott (R- Forest Junction) co-authored the bill, which passed the Senate on a voice vote and was approved by the Assembly 93-0; it is Act 248.

While some places in the United States are sprawling, some places are building in compact and connected ways, and the difference between these two strategies affects the lives of millions of Americans. Smart Growth America updated its landmark 2002 study that had been widely used by researchers to examine the costs and benefits of sprawling development. Measuring Sprawl 2014 updates the research and analyzes development patterns in 221 metropolitan areas and 994 counties in the United States as of 2010, examining which communities are more compact and connected, and which are more sprawling. Researchers used four primary factors to evaluate development in these areas and assign a Sprawl Index score to each: residential and employment density; neighborhood mix of homes, jobs and services; strength of activity centers and downtowns; and accessibility of the street network. As noted in the report, the Madison and Milwaukee areas fare well on this index, while the Green Bay area has been found to be one of the most sprawling metropolitan areas in the United States - ranked 204 out of 221 metro areas.

Sheboygan MPO Update

The Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees met jointly on April 24^th. Significant agenda items at this meeting included: a public hearing, review and recommendation of approval of an amendment to the street and highway component of the Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Calendar Years 2013 - 2016 to the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission; review of the Annual Listing of Obligated Projects for Calendar Year 2013; review of draft Chapter 2 of the Year 2045 Sheboygan Area Transportation Plan (Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process); review of revisions to draft Chapter 3 of the Year 2045 SATP (Profile of the Metropolitan Planning Area); updates on Chapters 4 (Mission Statement, Goals and Objectives) and 5 (Existing Condition of the Transportation Network) of the Year 2045 SATP; and an update on WisDOT Northeast Region and other MPO planning activities.

Commission staff continues to prepare Chapter 5 of the Year 2045 SATP. Thus far, primary emphasis has been on the Transit Network section of Chapter 5. This chapter will take several months to prepare.

Commission staff spent some time in early April assisting Shoreline Metro with a quarterly report for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

The Commission approved a major amendment to the street and highway component of the 2013 - 2016 TIP at a meeting of its Executive Committee on April 25th. Commission staff transmitted the approved major amendment to applicable state and Federal agencies at the end of April. 

For more information, please contact Jeff Agee-Aguayo.

Companies in northeast Wisconsin that wish to expand the scope of their global business have an extraordinary opportunity in a ten day, three country trade venture to South America September 13 - 23, 2014. Colombia, Peru, and Chile are rapidly growing South American economies whose development needs align well with proven capabilities found among Wisconsin industry leaders. Their investments in infrastructure and preference for U.S.-made products make them ideal destinations for proven Wisconsin technology and expertise. 

For more information and an application, please contact Dani Long via email or call International Business Development, Inc. at (920) 358-5128.

EDA Launches New Website

The Commission has 2-4 offices available for occupancy. The offices range in size from 108 sq. ft. to 143 sq. ft.  Each office has a window with partial furnishings. The rent is $9.00/sf and includes utilities. There will be an additional monthly cost for phone and internet service, parking, and office cleaning. A conference room and small break room are included in the rental cost. If your organization is seeking temporary or long-term office space close to all the downtown amenities, please contact Richard Heath for more information. 

Richard Heath 

Executive Director

Jeff Agee-Aguayo

Transportation

Planner

Richard Malone 

Office Accounts

Coordinator 

Angela Pierce 

Natural Resources

 Planner

Brandon Robinson 

Community Assistance

Planner

Joshua Schedler

GIS Coordinator