ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Feds inquire about Tunnel’s role in commercial traffic

DETROIT — A group of United States Congressmen and Senators are seeking clarification on Homeland Security’s apparent plans to expand commercial traffic processing at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel.

In a letter to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff — obtained by TodaysTrucking.com — the Michigan-based politicians requested a written response to several inquiries regarding the Tunnel’s future role in handling commercial trucks.

Perhaps with its future stake in the Tunnel in doubt, the
operators of the U.S. side have little motivation for upgrades, some say

“As the Tunnel plans for the future, it would be helpful to know the Department’s long-term infrastructure, programmatic and staffing needs for international border crossings,” states the letter, whose authors include Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, as well as Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick — mother of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

“We understand that it is difficult to project these requirements, but the Department’s expectations of border crossing operators (specifically the Detroit Windsor Tunnel) are necessary for effective planning by both operators and the Department itself.”

The politicians, aware the BRASS program will be phased out by the end of the year, also want to know the date DHS plans to terminate the use of the program to clear commercial traffic at the Tunnel. The letter goes on to ask if an interim program will be implemented while the Tunnel improves infrastructure in accordance to the FAST program.

The Tunnel has traditionally handled some commercial volume — mainly for carriers with purpose-built, low clearance trailers. But since 9-11 the U.S. government has started putting pressure on the Tunnel to provide more facilities in the U.S. for customs secondary inspection processing, a source told TodaysTrucking.com.

One problem, according to the source, is that the operators of the U.S. side — Macquarie Bank of Australia — do not collect U.S.-bound tolls. Because they are collected by the city of Windsor, it’s possible the operators have no financial incentive to invest millions in plaza infrastructure and processing improvements on the U.S. side.

Furthermore, there have been several reports that the City of Detroit is seriously considering a proposal to sell the Detroit Tunnel concession to the company that owns the Ambassador Bridge after 2017. “At the point,” says the source, “(Macquarie) would have no asset, so I am sure that is playing into all this as well.”