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Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

As part of the Environmental Impact Statement and Project Development phase of the KRM Alternatives Analysis, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, on behalf of an Intergovernmental Partnership (IGP) of the Counties and Cities of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WISDOT), and the Regional Planning Commission. The DEIS is one necessary component of this phase, and has been approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

The other component is the Alternatives Analysis, which involves reviewing and refining the commuter rail and bus alternatives considered to date, and recommending one for implementation. The Alternatives Analysis process is described in the DEIS document, culminating in the selection of the Commuter Rail Alternative as the Locally Preferred Alternative by the KRM Steering Committee in November of 2006. Further refinement of the commuter rail and bus alternatives is currently being conducted, with the goal of submitting an application later this year to the FTA to allow the project to enter into Preliminary Engineering (PE) under the FTA’s New Starts program. FTA funding will depend on how the project compares to other similar projects nationwide based on FTA project criteria, including cost effectiveness.

The DEIS has been prepared and filed according to the State and National Environmental Policy Acts and is now available for public comment. The document describes a full range of commuter rail and bus alternatives, the affected environment, and an analysis of the environmental impacts of each alternative in the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee corridor. The analysis includes the effects on land use, noise, vibration, and air quality, as well as the impacts on natural resources such as ecosystems and water resources. To view or download the full document, click on the following link:

KRM Draft Environmental Impact Statement – July 2009 (PDF)

Three public hearings were recently held to obtain comments on the DEIS (see schedule below). The public hearings were conducted in “open house” format, with exhibits on display and project staff available to answer any questions about the DEIS or any other aspect of the project. A short project presentation was made during each hearing, as noted below.

Monday, September 14, 2009
5:00-7:00 pm (presentation: 5:45 pm)
Great Lakes Room, Racine Building, Racine Gateway Technical College
901 Pershing Drive, Racine

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
5:00-7:00 pm (presentation: 5:45 pm)
Reuther High School, Gymnasium
913 57th Street, Kenosha

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
5:00-7:00 pm (presentation: 5:45 pm)
Harbor Lights Room, Milwaukee Downtown Transit Center
909 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee

At the hearings, attendees were able to provide written comments or give oral comments to court reporters at any time during the two hour time frame. In addition, written comments were accepted through October 5, 2009. Although the public comment period has ended, comments regarding any aspect of the project are always welcome, and can be sent via the KRM website, or by email, mail, or fax:

E-mail:
U.S. Mail: KRM Commuter Link, P.O. Box 1607, Waukesha, WI 53187-1607
Fax: (262) 547-1103

Public Hearing Display Boards

To view the display boards used at the September 2009 public hearings, click on this link:

September 2009 Public Hearing Display Boards (PDF)

Public Hearing Presentation

To view the presentation given at each of the September 2009 public hearings, click on this link:

September 2009 Public Hearing Presentation (PDF)

Public Viewing Locations for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

In addition to the groups, agencies, organizations, and individuals directly receiving copies, the KRM DEIS was also made available for review and comment at the following public locations by any individual, citizen group, or public agency. The DEIS can still be reviewed at these locations during normal business hours.

Federal, State, and Regional Offices

Federal Transit Administration Regional Office
200 W. Adams Street, Suite 320, Chicago IL 60606
Phone (312) 353-2789
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-5:00pm.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Hill Farms State Office Building - Library
4802 Sheboygan Avenue, First Floor, Room 100, Madison WI 53707
Phone (608) 264-8142
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:00pm.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Southeast Region Offices - Library
141 N.W. Barstow Street, East Wing, Second Floor Reception Desk, Waukesha WI 53186
Phone (262) 548-5902
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-3:00pm (by appointment only for the general public).
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Offices
W239 N1812 Rockwood Drive, Waukesha WI 53186
Phone (262) 547-6721
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

County Offices

Kenosha County Department of Public Works
19600 75th Street, Bristol WI 53104, Phone (262) 857-1870
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.
Milwaukee County Department of Public Works - City Campus
2711 W. Wells Street, Suite 300, Milwaukee WI 53208
Phone (414) 278-5096
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm.
Racine County Department of Public Works - Ives Grove Office Complex
14200 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant WI 53177
Phone (262) 886-8440
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

Local Libraries in the KRM Corridor

Kenosha Public Libraries:
- Simmons Library
  711 59th Place, Kenosha WI 53140
  Phone (262) 564-6100
  Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-8:00pm. Friday, 9:00am-6:00pm. Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm.
- Northside Branch - 1500 27th Avenue, Kenosha WI 53140
  Phone (262) 564-6100
  Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-9:00pm. Friday, 9:00am-6:00pm. Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Sunday, Noon-4:00pm (September – May).
Carthage College - Hedberg Library
2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha WI 53140
Phone (262) 551-5900
Summer 2009 Library Hours:
Sunday, 1:00pm-10:00pm. Monday-Thursday, 8:00am-10:00pm. Friday, 7:30am-5:00pm. Saturday, 8:00am-5:00pm.
2009-2010 School Year Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 7:00am-12:00 midnight. Friday, 7:00am-10:00pm. Saturday, 7:30am-6:00pm. Sunday, 12:00 noon-12:00 midnight.
Racine Public Library
75 Seventh Street, Racine WI 53403
Phone (262) 636-9241
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-8:00pm. Friday & Saturday, 11:00am-4:00pm.
Sunday, 1:00pm-4:00pm (from October – Mid May with holiday exceptions).
Oak Creek Public Library
8620 S. Howell Avenue, Oak Creek WI 53154
Phone (414)764-4400
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 10:00am-8:30pm. Thursday, 12:00pm-8:30pm. Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm. Saturday, 10:00am-4:00pm. Sunday, 1:00pm-4:00pm (closed on Sundays in June, July and August).
South Milwaukee Public Library
1907 10th Avenue, South Milwaukee WI 53172
Phone (414) 768-8195
Summer Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 9:00am-8:00pm. Thursday, 9:00am-6:30pm.
Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm. Closed Sundays.
Cudahy Family Library
3500 Library Drive, Cudahy WI 53110
Phone (414) 769-2244
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-8:00pm. Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm (September-May).
Saturday, 12:00 noon-4:00pm (June, July, August). Sunday, 12:00 noon-4:00pm.
St. Francis Public Library
4230 S. Nicholson Avenue, St. Francis WI 53235
Phone (414) 481-7323
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-8:00pm. Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm. Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm (Labor Day to Memorial Day). Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Sunday, 1:00pm-4:00pm (Labor Day to Memorial Day). Closed Sundays (Memorial Day to Labor Day).
Milwaukee Public Libraries:
- Central Library - 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53233
  Phone (414) 286-3000
  Hours: Monday-Tuesday, 9:00am-7:00pm. Wednesday-Saturday, 9:00am-5:30pm.
  Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm (October-April).
- Bay View Branch - 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53207
  Phone (414) 286-3019
  Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-8:30pm. Friday & Saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm.
- Tippecanoe Branch - 3912 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee WI 53207
  Phone (414) 286-3085
  Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 12:30pm-8:30pm. Thursday-Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm.
  Saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm (September-May).
City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau Library - City Hall
200 E. Wells Street, Room B-11, Milwaukee WI 53202
Phone (414) 286-8818
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:45pm.

Latest Newsletter

The newest edition of the project newsletter summarizes the Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement, including descriptions of the alternatives considered and the Locally Preferred Alternative, a summary of the costs and benefits of the Commuter Rail Alternative, and the next steps for the project. To view or download this newsletter, click on the following link:

KRM Newsletter No. 4 – September 2009 (PDF)

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