South Shore Supervisor Pat Jursik has published a new edition of her E-News update, and it includes a number of noteworthy news items, including an update on the Lake Parkway extension and the scheduling of a “South Shore Option 2.0” economic development forum for Thursday, Sept. 27.
Check it out here. And here is the 794 update …
Lake Parkway (794) Extension
In May 2012, the County Board recommended extension of the Lake Parkway (State Trunk Highway 794) through a resolution which was signed by the County Executive. Following through on the process, I spoke with the WisDOT Southeast Regional Director and Engineering Chief as well as the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) Director in August. Several steps are required before an extension can occur.
- SEWRPC must complete an Air Quality Conformity Analysis regarding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This analysis is already being conducted. A final analysis should be available in September or October 2012.
- Once this Air Quality Analysis is finished, the technical advisory committee will be asked to make a final recommendation to the SEWRPC board. The SEWRPC board must receive the advisory committee’s recommendation and then take final action. This may conclude by December 2012.
- WisDOT is concerned about limited funding. WisDOT is completing many projects around the state.
- Racine and Kenosha Counties would also need to reach an agreement to demote some current state highways to local status and to embrace a “Lake Corridor.”
- An extension of Lake Parkway would probably need to connect to Highway 31 and, ultimately, to Highway KR at the Racine/Kenosha border, according to the perspective of WisDOT.
We will need to work cooperatively with Racine and Kenosha to establish any such Lake Corridor. Our neighbors in Racine and Caledonia have already expressed interest in extending the Lake Parkway. I welcome further dialogue about this issue.
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