Slow Start For Duluth Commuter Rail

Commuter rail, used in many locations throughout the country as an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion, is undergoing a trial run in Duluth, MN. Duluth is a relatively uncongested metropolitan area for much of the year, but retains significant amounts of rail infrastructure that enable it to perform this trial run. "While the idea might be great, it's not yet clear if the time has come for commuter rail service in Duluth, where traffic jams are minimal and downtown parking still relatively inexpensive."The use of rail as a transportation alternative in medium-sized metropolitan areas is often a novel choice, but can be difficult to make cost-effective given the low cost of driving and parking.