GC No. 003/05
For release February 15, 2005

WINDSOR-DETROIT 
INTERNATIONAL CROSSING CANADIAN 
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PHASE BEGINS

WINDSOR, February 15, 2005 — The Governments of Canada and Ontario today launched the Canadian Environmental Assessment (EA) phase of the Detroit River International Crossing project to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow at the Windsor-Detroit border. 

"The Governments of Canada and Ontario recognize the pressing need for additional border capacity in the Windsor-Detroit Gateway area," said Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre. "As we move ahead with this next phase, we will continue to focus on enhancing the efficiency, security and safety of the Gateway, while minimizing the environmental impacts on the residents of local communities."

"Moving toward a new or expanded Windsor-Detroit crossing is great news for the community," said Ontario Minister of Transportation Harinder Takhar. "We are working with our partners to ease congestion and strengthen the economy at Canada’s busiest border crossing."

The EA phase will include the completion of environmental and technical work to allow the governments to decide on the location of a new or expanded crossing in an environmentally responsible manner.

Due to the nature of the project, and the complexity of border transportation issues in the Windsor-Detroit area, this work is necessary to meet the legislative and regulatory requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is leading the Canadian work program in coordination with Transport Canada. The Michigan Department of Transportation, in coordination with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, is leading the U.S. work program.

During the EA phase, alternative solutions will be studied, with consideration being given to environmental and community effects, and a location for a new or expanded international crossing will be recommended. This work will be completed by the end of 2007, leading to the opening of additional crossing capacity by 2013.

The public will have the opportunity to participate in the process. The first of five rounds of public meetings is planned for April 2005. In addition, local advisory councils on both sides of the border will provide the public, the private sector and community groups the opportunity to comment throughout the Environmental Assessment phase.

This phase is an important next step, following the Planning, Needs and Feasibility Study completed in January 2004. The terms of reference for the Environmental Assessment were reviewed by the public last spring and approved by the Ontario's Minister of the Environment in September. Following a competitive bidding process, URS Canada and the Corradino Group have been selected to lead the Canadian and American work respectively. 

The Schwartz Report, recently released by the City of Windsor, will provide valuable input to this process. In addition to identifying potential short- and medium-term proposals to address congestion problems in Windsor, the Schwartz Report confirms the requirement for new crossing capacity. Careful consideration will be given to the information in the Schwartz Report.

Updates on study progress and consultation activities will be provided throughout the project. For additional information please visit the website: www.partnershipborderstudy.com.

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BACKGROUNDER

WINDSOR-DETROIT GATEWAY

The Canadian and U.S. governments are committed to an efficient and secure Windsor-Detroit Gateway. The development of additional border capacity is a national priority in both countries to support the dynamic just-in-time economy in Canada and the United States.

The Canada-U.S.-Ontario-Michigan Border Transportation Partnership (the Partnership) has developed a cross border 30-year transportation strategy that sets out the process for considering new border crossings. The main objectives of the Partnership are:

• To improve the movement of people, goods and services in a safe and efficient manner across the Canada-U.S. border at the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, and to connect existing national, provincial and regional transportation systems, such as Highway 401 and Interstate 75;
• To enhance regional economic vitality and Canada-U.S. trade;
• To meet the long term needs of the Canadian and U.S. border inspection agencies; and
• To expedite the planning and environmental study process to ensure that future travel demands in this corridor can be accommodated in a timely manner.

Environmental Assessment Phase

This phase, announced on February 15, 2005, will include the completion of the environmental and technical work to allow the four partnership governments to make decisions on the location of a new or expanded crossing. The environmental assessment phase is an important next step and follows the completion of the Planning, Needs and Feasibility study in January 2004. 

The public, private sector and community groups will have the opportunity to be involved in the process, with the first round of public meetings planned for April 2005. 

Due to the complexity of the border transportation issues in the Windsor-Detroit area, this project must meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, and the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act. 

The Partnership is leading the coordinated planning and environmental assessments and expediting the development process to ensure that all regulatory requirements are met and a new or expanded crossing can be operational by 2013.

Persons interested in being placed on the Canadian contact list for this project are encouraged to contact:

Mr. Roger Ward
Senior Project Manager 
Ministry of Transportation
Southwestern Region
659 Exeter Road, 3^rd Floor
London, Ontario N6E 1L3
Tel: (519) 873-4586
Fax: (519) 873-4600
e-mail: Detroit.River@mto.gov.on.ca

Short- and Medium-Term Solutions for Windsor

Recognizing that a long-term solution will take time, federal, provincial/state and local governments are also implementing short- and medium-term measures to relieve border congestion and improve traffic flows to existing crossings.

In the Windsor area, Transport Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation committed $880,000 towards the deployment of advanced technologies to improve traffic management on Huron Church Road and on approaches to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. These systems are already improving traffic flows on the approach to these two heavily used crossings.

On March 11, 2004, the Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Windsor signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving Strategy. Funding for this strategy comes from the Canada-Ontario Border Infrastructure Fund and a joint commitment by the federal and provincial governments to invest $300 million for the implementation of short- and medium-term projects to improve local traffic flows and address congestion and security issues at the Windsor Gateway. Five projects announced as Phase 1 of the Strategy are already under way and will be completed by 2006-2007. 
They include:

• Improvements to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Plaza;
• A pedestrian overpass crossing Huron Church Road at Assumption High School;
• A road-rail grade separation at Walker Road and the Canadian Pacific Railway line, and an environmental assessment for a road-rail grade separation at Howard Avenue and the Canadian Pacific Railway line;
• Improvements to the intersection of Industrial Road at Huron Church Road to facilitate access to a pre-processing facility; and
• Implementation of intelligent transportation systems to improve traffic management, control and driver information.

Recent measures such as the addition of four new U.S.-bound commercial customs inspection booths in June 2004 have reduced queuing along Huron Church Road. Both countries remain committed to providing sufficient resources to keep our border functioning efficiently. Both countries are also committed to implementing harmonized border facilitation initiatives such as Free and Secure Trade (FAST), NEXUS, and advance notification of commercial shipments to expedite the secure flow of goods and people.

In addition, the City of Windsor and its partners, with the financial support of Transport Canada, will conduct a Community-Based Strategic Rail Study to examine the opportunities for rail rationalization and the development of an intermodal facility on city-owned lands around Windsor Airport.

In the Detroit area, federal and state governments are implementing the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project that includes:

• Rehabilitation of Fort Street and West Grand Boulevard bridges;
• Interstate-96 and Interstate-75 freeway improvements;
• Construction of ramps leading to Interstate-96 and Interstate-75 directly to the Bridge; and
• Construction of a pedestrian bridge over Bagley Avenue.

February 2005