CNN: Marquette top place to ride out a gas crunch

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MARQUETTE - A news Web site has named Marquette as one of its top 10 places in the country to live during times of high gas prices.

CNN Money.com's list, titled "Where to ride out a gas crunch," has Marquette in the top spot for economical commuting. It cites a median commute of 8.93 minutes for people who live and work in the city of Marquette as the basis for its pronouncement.

It notes the presence of large employers such as Northern Michigan University and Marquette General Health System within the city limits shortens commutes for many residents.

Among the other cities on the list are Hays, Kan.; Laramie, Wyo.; Aberdeen, S.D.; and Naples, Fla.

Lois Ellis of the Lake Superior Community Partnership in Marquette said having the city recognized for quality-of-life issues can be helpful for economic development.

"Obviously any time you can get your name out there in the national media, it's a positive," Ellis said. "We can't really quantify that effect in any way, but it's nice to know we're being recognized for some positive factors."

The list evaluated cities based on commuting times and the availability of public transportation, and did not address gas prices by area.

But shorter commutes may be even more important near Marquette, since the city's gas price average is $4.16 today, according to surveys by AAA. The state average today is $4.09, and the national average today is $4.07.

Shorter commutes aren't the only way Marquette-area employees are finding to save gas money, said Joe Esbrook, director of business and community development at Michigan Works! in Marquette.

Esbrook said residents aren't necessarily looking for new jobs closer to home, but instead are turning to tele-commuting. Since the area has reliable high-speed Internet access, more people are making Marquette County their home, while working for distant companies, he said.

He's also seen an increase in the use of public transportation or bicycles to get to work, he said.

"And with Marquette being one of these liveable communities, lots of people walk to work," Esbrook added. "It makes it more attractive to professionals."

He noted high gas prices are having one positive effect on Marquette and similar cities: businesses and residents are looking more toward traditional downtown areas to invest and shop, since those areas usually are close to home.

Marquette also made the Web site's list of the top 25 places for singles to "meet their match."