COOK COUNTY LOCAL ENERGY PROJECT

Transportation in Cook County

Transportation is a pretty important part of our lives, and accounts for about 30% of our total energy use nationwide. Here in Cook County, that percentage may be even higher because of our dispersed population and remote location. Whether it's going fishing for the afternoon or making a run to Duluth - we all need to get somewhere.

So how can we transport ourselves (and our things) in ways that protect our climate, free us from dependence on foreign oil, and benefit our local economy? Although many aspects of our transportation system are beyond local control, we have put together a list of locally relevant topics that should be considered to help make Cook County's transportation system less dependent on fossil fuel energy.

Walking and Biking
Mass Transit
North Shore Rideshare
Ride-Sharing
Tele-Commuting
Materials Shipping Efficiency
Vehicle Efficiency
Alternatively Powered Vehicles
Support Local Economy
Transportation Working Group:   To select and implement actual projects and programs, CCLEP has formed a Transportation Working Group made up of engaged citizens meeting about once a month. Click on the link above to see what we've been up to, and let us know if you're interested in joining the fun.

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Energy-free, carbon-neutral way to get where you want to go that may even help you get into shape.

Strategies:

• Adopt land-use planning to encourage spatially compact towns and neighborhoods to increase walking and biking opportunities.
• Include walking and biking as goals in transit system planning.
• Enhance Cook County's system of walking and biking routes through better design and increased availability.
• Employ traffic-calming techniques in urban areas.
• Increase availability of bicycles for residents and visitors through use of bicycle pools and other programs.

Local Resources:
Superior North Outdoor Center: Bicycle sales, Rental, and Repair. Stock and sell electric bikes and electric wheel add on kits.
218 387 2186

Cook County Highway Department
218 387 3014

City of Grand Marais Street Department
218 387 1848

Web Links:
MN DOT Bike Programs
MN DOT Pedestrian Programs
Next Step: Walking and Biking in MN
St. Louis Regional Bicycling Federation - Bike Commuting
League of American Bicyclists
MN Bicycle Transportation Design Guidelines
National Center for Safe Routes to School
MN Safe Routes to School Program
Transit for Livable Communities
Transit for Livable Communities

Higher person-miles/gallon. Traditionally most feasible in urban areas, but increasingly viable in rural areas as transportation costs increase. Also serves social function of providing affordable transportation to those who don't own a car, or who can't drive.

Strategies:

• Increase public use of existing transit opportunities.
• Improve shuttle and bus service opportunities within Cook County through enhanced schedules and routes.
• Increase fuel-efficiency of mass-transit vehicle fleet.
• Improve shuttle and bus service opportunities within Cook County through enhanced schedules and routes.


• Improve bus service between Thunder Bay and Duluth.
  
• Investigate feasibility of train service along North Shore.
  
  

Local Resources:
Arrowhead Transit - Shuttle service
1 800 223 1850
Dial-A-Ride: 218 370 1515

North Shore Transportation - Taxi/shuttle service, Cook County and weekly trips to Duluth.
Late May through Mid-October
1 800 962 0409

H.T. Leasing Ltd. (Happy Times Tours & Travel)- North Shore Bus Service (Currently Discontinued)
807 473 5515
Grand Marais Bus Stop: Blue Water Cafe, 387 1597

Web Links:
Minnesota Public Transit Association

MN DOT Rural Transit Assistance Program

Ride-Sharing

Higher person-miles/gallon. Increased internet access has made this kind of mass-transit much easier to facilitate. Improvements could be made.

Strategies:

• Enhance use of internet-based ride-sharing opportunities within Cook County and between Cook County and other destinations.

Local Resources:
Boreal Access - Local Internet Service Provider
218 387 9471

North Shore Rideshare

Web Links:
Nuride - incentive-based ride sharing network in use in St. Paul, MN

Reduces need for transportation. Saves energy, money, and time. Increases business opportunities within Cook County.

Strategies:

• Improve internet access countywide.

Local Resources:
Cook County Broadband Initiative
Contact: Danna MacKenzie

Boreal Access - Local Internet Service Provider
218 387 9471

Saves energy. Retains more capital in local economy.

Strategies:

• Produce and Puchase more goods and services locally.


• Use internet to improve efficiency of trucking materials to and from Cook County.
• Consider reestablishing water-based (Boats) transportation to and from Cook County.

Saves energy. Retains more capital in local economy.

Strategies:

• Improve cumulative fuel efficiency of local governmental vehicle fleets over time.
• Educational campaign to highlight environmental and local economic benefits of higher efficiency vehicles.
• Where appropriate, consider increased use of more efficient types of vehicles such as scooters, electric carts and bicycles, ATVs, etc.

Web Links:
US Environmental Protection Agency - Green Vehicle Guide
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

Could reduce use of fossil fuels, and support local energy industry.

Strategies:

• Plan for infrastructure needed for electric vehicles such as plug-in stations and "smart-grid" technology.
• Utilize waste veggie oil from restaurant fryers as diesel fuel.
• Produce bio-fuel from forest bio-mass.
• Stay informed about feasibility of other vehicle power sources such as compressed air and hydrogen.

Local Resources:
Scott Sorenson - Has a truck that can run on waste fryer oil
218 387 9185


Superior North Outdoor Center: Bicycle sales, Rental, and Repair. Stock and sell electric bikes and electric wheel add on kits.
218 387 2186

Mark Spinler - Has equipment to make diesel fuel from waste fryer oil.
218 387 2186

Web Links:
Biodiesel America
Journey to Forever
Collaborative Biodiesel Tutorial

Reduces need for transportation. Saves energy. Improves local economy. Reduces financial support for some aspects of global economic system that may contribute to far away environmental and social abuses such as overseas sweatshops, and the loss of rain forests.

Strategies:

• Produce and purchase more goods locally reducing transportation costs economically and environmentally.

Local Resources:
Cook County Businesses

Web Links:
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Co-op America
The Relocalization Network
The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
Slow Movement