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BORDER TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP
Why a new crossing in Detroit-Windsor?
The governments of Canada, the United States, Ontario and Michigan are moving
forward in a Border Transportation Partnership to implement a 30-year
transportation strategy addressing the various challenges at the Detroit-Windsor
Gateway, including free and secure trade, security, environmental concerns and
community impacts.
The Detroit-Windsor Gateway is vitally important to the national economies in
both the United States and Canada. Businesses from coast-to-coast in Canada and
the United States depend on a reliable and secure transportation network.
Manufacturing production depends heavily on the fast and predictable trucking of
components, parts and finished products across the border.
It is essential that the Partnership take appropriate action now, to ensure
that this important Gateway remains efficient and secure, because:
- In 2004, the Detroit-Windsor crossings handled $158.7 billion in trade.
This represents 28 per cent of total Canada-U.S. trade;
- The value of trade between Ontario and Michigan represents over 60 per
cent
of total Canada-U.S. bilateral trade. The majority of truck traffic crossing the
border at Detroit-Windsor originates from or is destined for Canadian and U.S.
communities;
- The Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit is the conduit for over
40 per cent of Ontario-U.S. truck traffic;
- Over the next 30 years, trade between Canada and the U.S. is projected to
increase significantly. Cross-border truck traffic is expected to increase by
128 per cent. Cross-border passenger vehicle traffic is also forecast to
increase by approximately 57 per cent;
- Under high-growth scenarios, cross-border traffic demand could exceed the
capacity of the present border crossings in the Detroit River area as early
as 2015; and
- Unless steps are taken to address capacity at the Detroit-Windsor crossings,
mounting congestion and delays will result in lost production, and ultimately
fewer jobs in communities throughout both countries.
Future Detroit River Crossings Capacity Needs
![This chart shows how the traffic volume from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, from 1970 to the present has grown and what the projected increase will be by the year 2035. The line chart shows hourly volume increases by five year periods. Hourly traffic volume has steadily increased and reached a peak in 1999. Traffic volume is expected to exceed the crossing capacity around the year 2020.](/web/20060210065559im_/http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/images/windsor-graph.jpg)
Note: Peak hour is 4 to 5 p.m.: peak direction is U.S. to Canada.
Note: Historic peak hour volume estimated from historic annual data.
*Volume in Passenger Car Equivalents.
Source: Exhibit 7.2 D p 132, Detroit River International Crossing Study
Travel Demand Forecasts, Sept. 2005.
Through the Detroit River International Crossing study, the Border
Transportation Partnership will identify a location for a new crossing by
mid-2007. Environmental documentation, including preliminary design, will be
submitted for approvals by the end of 2007. Construction is expected to begin in
2010, with a new crossing open for traffic in 2013.
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