With the Provincial legislature shut down for the summer and all parties in election mode, Windsor's border solution just became a rather large political football.
Border Plan Release Delayed
The timeline for a detailed plan for a new border crossing in West Windsor seems to have been pushed back.
Today, representatives of the Detroit River International Crossing Study would only commit to a vague schedule that will include more lengthy public consultation.
In the absence of our shiny new $250,000 dollar communication department, we turn to the Windsor Star for information:
Decision on truck tunnel will be delayed because city and province can't agree
The city has again retained the services of former traffic engineer Sam Schwartz who has studied the corridor and started offering possible options to the province.
The province seems to be pushing for a cheaper at-grade solution with green buffer zone.
"The city is taking extra steps to make qualified submissions to DRIC for their consideration," Francis said. "We are certainly frightened and fearful of cheap solutions."
Last but not least, "Son of Sam",
Traffic guru has corridor tunnel planOptions - not compromise. Make sure the correct wording is used or you'll earn a trip to the woodshed.
Francis fearful of province's 'cheap solutions' for route
Dave Battagello, Windsor Star
Published: Saturday, June 16, 2007
Sam Schwartz, the city's hired traffic guru, has come up with innovative tunnelling suggestions for a border truck road in the Talbot-Huron Church corridor, according to Mayor Eddie Francis, who urged Ontario officials to take a closer look at Schwartz's plans.
As the city and provincial officials on the Detroit River International Crossing team remain at loggerheads,it was announced Friday that a recommendation on the truck route, expected this month, is being delayed.
The city several weeks ago rehired the former New York traffic engineer known as Gridlock Sam. He studied the planned border access route corridor between the end of Highway 401 and E.C. Row Expressway and offered possible tunnelling options to the province.
