Transportation Archives - Perfect Duluth Day

Duluth considers “trackless trolley” in 1921

Oct 06, 2021 No Comments

One century ago the Duluth Street Railway Company — predecessor to the Duluth Transit Authority — was keeping a close eye on plans for adding trolley buses in Minneapolis. How long did it take for Duluth to get it’s first “trackless trolley”? Pretty much exactly ten more years.

According to Zenith City Online, Duluth’s first trolley buses ran on Oct. 4, 1931. The Duluth Herald reported about Duluth considering trolley buses in its Oct. 6, 1921 issue, one hundred years ago today.

First stretch of Miller Trunk Road concrete laid in 1921

Sep 02, 2021 1 Comment

On Sept. 2, 1921 — 100 years ago today — crews began laying concrete paving on Miller Trunk Road near Twig. The photo above, by Louis P. Gallagher, was shot when a quarter mile of the 21-mile stretch had been completed, according to the Sept. 5 issue of the Duluth Herald.

History Transportation

Duluth Dukes bus for sale on Facebook Marketplace

May 23, 2021 No Comments

An interesting ad for a 1956 Flxible Visicoach popped up May 4 on Facebook. The destination sign on the bus reads “Duluth Dukes.” Apparently, it’s a former team bus.

Postcard from the Passenger Steamer South American

Apr 07, 2021 1 Comment

This undated postcard, published by Zenith Interstate News Company, shows the Steamer South American on Lake Superior. It was built for the Chicago, Duluth & Georgian Bay Transit Company and launched as an overnight passenger ship on Feb. 21, 1914. A fire in 1924 required the upper works of the vessel to be rebuilt, resulting in the addition of a second smokestack, which is shown on the postcard.

Amtrak wants to return passenger service to Duluth with funding from Biden’s infrastructure proposal

Apr 04, 2021 1 Comment

Amtrak’s North Star parked at the Duluth Depot, July 19, 1981. (Photographer unknown)

It’s been 36 years since Amtrak ended its 10-year run of passenger service from the Twin Cities to Duluth. This past week the company, which provides medium and long-distance service in the contiguous United States and nine Canadian cities, announced a vision for up to 30 new routes, including a return to Duluth … if Congress passes President Joe Biden’s $2-trillion infrastructure proposal.

Mystery Photo #129: Trolley Car and Conductors

Jan 02, 2021 2 Comments

This undated postcard photo of two conductors standing next to a trolley car comes with a few details. The trolley car has a destination sign that reads: “W. Dul. & Aerial Bridge.” And the word “Duluth” is handwritten on the back of the card.

Artists sought to create visuals for Highway 61 Revisited project

Dec 13, 2020 No Comments

Duluth Waterfront Collective is seeking four artists to create visualizations of its Highway 61 Revisited project. As first reported on Perfect Duluth Day in May, the project attempts to redesign the I-35 corridor where it splits Downtown Duluth and the Canal Park Business District.

Sky Harbor Airport open after runway relocation

Jun 18, 2020 No Comments

Sky Harbor Airport in Duluth reopened on June 12 following a third phase of construction. The runway was relocated from its previous position in order to protect an old-growth forest of red and white pine trees, which were growing into the approach and departure surfaces.

Video by Short Elliott Hendrickson.

Videos Sky Harbor Airport, Transportation

Duluth You & Me: Port Town Trolley

Jun 15, 2020 No Comments

Use the link below for a printable PDF for your drawing and coloring pleasure.
Duluth You & Me: Port Town Trolley

Follow the Duluth You & Me subject tag to see additional pages. For background on the book see the original post on the topic.

Art Duluth You & Me, Transportation

Duluth Urban Design Project: Highway 61 Revisited

May 27, 2020 1 Comment

What better time could there be for sharing grand expensive visions than during a pandemic, when Duluth and virtually all municipalities are under tremendous financial duress?

Hey, ideas are just ideas, right?

A group of designers and unofficial community planners known as the Duluth Waterfront Collective has been working on a “what-if?” project called Highway 61 Revisited. The basic task is to redesign the I-35 corridor where it splits Downtown Duluth and the Canal Park Business District.

MnDOT scales back Can of Worms project

Nov 23, 2019 No Comments

The Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to announce two dramatic reductions to the $343-million Twin Ports Interchange project on Monday. The changes will directly affect the Lincoln Park business district, shown here in 2018. (Photo by Liftoff Aerials)

State officials will announce dramatic reductions in a major state highway project that was intended to improve driver safety, traffic flow and heavy load shipments through the heart of Duluth.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will defer two critical pieces of its $343-million Twin Ports Interchange project due to increasing construction costs, officials told a Lincoln Park business group Thursday. A formal announcement and two public meetings are planned for Nov. 25.

PDD Video Lab: A Whole New Can of Worms

Aug 14, 2019 No Comments

In a world where Duluth’s “Can of Worms” area is untangled and all the city’s hillside vegetation dies, comes a new video from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

When the PDD A/V squad saw MnDOT’s silent “Drive Through Animation,” the need to add music was overwhelming. The soundtrack above is a clip from Anthony Bennett’s song “Can of Worms” from the 2012 album Hello Cruel World. Tony is also PDD’s calendar editor, though he wasn’t in the lab when we picked his music.

DLH passenger numbers up 13 percent

Feb 05, 2019 No Comments

Duluth International Airport announced today that 280,865 passengers flew through the facility in 2018, marking a 13 percent increase over 2017.

Both United and Delta saw increases, with United’s addition of the airbus flight in May leading to a nearly 30 percent increase year-over-year.

United offers three daily nonstop flights to Chicago and Delta offers five daily nonstop flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul. American Airlines is set to begin direct service to Chicago on May 23.

“We now have the three largest carriers in the country flying out of DLH,” Tom Werner, the airport’s executive director, said in a news release. “We’re hoping to use that momentum to add Denver to the growing list of places we fly and ways we connect our region to the world.”

News and Current Affairs Duluth International Airport, Transportation

The Hopper Shuttle: Catering to Craft Beverage Fans

Jan 31, 2019 No Comments

A new complimentary shuttle service will provide a link between Duluth’s craft beverage purveyors. Starting Feb. 8 the Hopper, a 15-passenger van, will run between Canal Park, Lincoln Park and Downtown every Friday and Saturday night.

Twin Ports Interchange Reconstruction EAW

Oct 01, 2018 No Comments

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has prepared an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the Twin Ports Interchange Reconstruction project and is seeking public input. The project proposes reconstructing the I-35/I-535/US 53 interchange, US 53 between I-35 and West Third Street, and I-535/Garfield Avenue interchange located in Duluth.

Transportation Posts