Alliance for Sustainability

Goal 1:

The transportation system for the Chequamegon Bay region includes diverse modes of sustainable travel and increasingly sustainable fuel sources, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in fossil fuel consumption by 2011.

Objective A:

Compliment, expand and enhance public transportation services.

Actions:

1. Work with Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) to continue developing a comprehensive regional service network.
2. Foster the integration of BART services with tribal and elderly and disabled population transportation networks.
3. Research and develop in-town electric vehicle shuttle service that accommodates student, worker and senior activities.
4. Research the potential linkage between the BART system and area school buses for providing after-school and weekend activities.
5. Identify "Park and Ride" or "Walk and Ride" stations located in each community to allow for non-BART travelers to access public transportation in the communities - especially for area events.
6. Work with Travel Green Wisconsin to develop packets and website descriptions of "Sustainable Chequamegon" transportation options for vacationers and summer residents for area Chambers of Commerce.
7. Promote long-term planning for a two-car light rail system that could eventually reconfigure the BART system.

Objective B:

Provide personal transportation options to compliment BART services for customers and community members who need temporary transportation.

Actions:

1. Encourage public purchase of high efficiency, low emission vehicles at BART drop off sites. These vehicles could use the same public access lanes as bicycles.
2. Encourage local business entrepreneurship related to the provision of a community fleet of co-op cars leased by the hour, day or week to co-op members.
3. Coordinate carpooling, park and ride stations and car co-ops.

Objective C:

Create a system of non-motorized travel routes for bicycles, pedestrians and skiers.

Actions:

1. Promote the design, funding, acquisition of easements and construction of non-motorized linkages connecting Chequamegon Bay communities.
2. Work with Ashland, Bayfield and Washburn to identify, mark and enforce bike lanes for safe urban travel.
3. Develop and promote bike-to-work incentive programs with corporate support (e.g., lockers and showers at work, reduced insurance co-pays, technical support).
4. Research the economic viability of three-wheeled bike taxis that are linked with other non-bicycle services that compliment the BART system.

Objective D:

Support development of transportation corridors among the five communities to promote natural landscapes, minimize roadside advertising and include more roadside rest areas for tourists and bikers.

Actions:

1. Work with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Scenic Byways Program to develop and implement design standards for roadside aesthetics in the Chequamegon Bay region.
2. Market sustainable transportation initiatives at roadside rest, historical markers and park-and-ride sites.

Objective E:

Provide fossil fuel alternatives to area consumers.

Actions:

1. Work with area communities and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to provide incentives for using public transportation (fossil fuel tax and road maintenance surcharges, etc.). The value of the surcharges could be returned through "complimentary" tickets for BART.
2. Encourage the provision of storage and access to bio-diesel and/or other alternative fuels for city vehicles; BART buses and Apostle Island water craft (Apostle Island National Lake Shore, Bayfield ferry line, U.S. Coast Guard). Locally produced sources would be given priority including Ashland Agricultural Experiment Station.
3. Develop a new vision for gas stations/convenience stores. Research and identify tax incentives for businesses to provide access to alternative fuels, especially bio-diesel and its future fuel cousins. These stations could provide both fuel, and locally produced convenience items from green sources and provide the maintenance functions for the co-op cars, electric carts and bike taxis.
4. Secure funding for 12-volt generators and inverters attached to exercise bike at the health center, retirement homes, schools, college, etc.

Objective F:

Link area sustainable transportation opportunities with the Midwest.

Actions:

1. Work toward establishing linkages with transportation systems in Superior, Duluth, Madison and eventually Minneapolis/St. Paul.