More Tunnel Leaks
No, not that kind!
When it rains it pours! That’s how the Mayor must feel with his grand ambitions regarding the Detroit Windsor Tunnel.
If it was not enough that the Tunnel has been called a “unique” security risk and that it is said that it does not meet US Customs requirements, the Tunnel takes another hit today.
For some reason, Today’s Trucking Magazine Online has become the media vehicle of choice for Leakors. In a story today, it was revealed that Michigan’s US Senators Stabenow and Levin, as well as Congresswoman Kilpatrick have asked the Department of Homeland Security to provide “a written response to several inquiries regarding the Tunnel's future role in handling commercial trucks.”
I wonder exactly when the Legislators’ letter was sent. Was it after the Journal of Commerce article came out in June that identified the problems at the Tunnel or when someone knew that it was coming out?
Obviously, someone may have a concern that the Tunnel may not have a future role to play with commercial trucking! While the volumes of trucks using the Tunnel is small compared with the number using the Bridge, they do provide significant revenues for the crossing that would be lost if it was made more difficult for trucks to use the crossing.
Another shot in the article at anyone who might want to be involved with Windsor in operating the Tunnel and, perhaps a warning, was the statement “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.”
Again, it seems that a lot of money will have to be spent to fix up the plaza on the other side but if there is no way to get that money back, then why do it? Plans have been proposed by the Tunnel but nothing has been done to carry them out. Again, does it mean that even if Homeland Security gives a positive response, commercial usage may die because of lack of proper facilities. Given the seemingly rocky relationship between Windsor and DCTC would a new operator have any better luck?
Who could the leakor be? Someone close to Macquarie Bank? Possibly, in order to put pressure to get a better deal with the Cities of Windsor and Detroit.
How about someone close to the City of Windsor? Possibly, since the Windsor Tunnel Plaza plans are coming out this week. If one cannot get proper plaza operations in Detroit, then get it done with reverse customs on the Canadian side, as Eddie expressed at Mackinac, and do it at the huge and expanded new Windsor Tunnel Plaza.
When it rains it pours! That’s how the Mayor must feel with his grand ambitions regarding the Detroit Windsor Tunnel.
If it was not enough that the Tunnel has been called a “unique” security risk and that it is said that it does not meet US Customs requirements, the Tunnel takes another hit today.
For some reason, Today’s Trucking Magazine Online has become the media vehicle of choice for Leakors. In a story today, it was revealed that Michigan’s US Senators Stabenow and Levin, as well as Congresswoman Kilpatrick have asked the Department of Homeland Security to provide “a written response to several inquiries regarding the Tunnel's future role in handling commercial trucks.”
I wonder exactly when the Legislators’ letter was sent. Was it after the Journal of Commerce article came out in June that identified the problems at the Tunnel or when someone knew that it was coming out?
Obviously, someone may have a concern that the Tunnel may not have a future role to play with commercial trucking! While the volumes of trucks using the Tunnel is small compared with the number using the Bridge, they do provide significant revenues for the crossing that would be lost if it was made more difficult for trucks to use the crossing.
Another shot in the article at anyone who might want to be involved with Windsor in operating the Tunnel and, perhaps a warning, was the statement “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.”
Again, it seems that a lot of money will have to be spent to fix up the plaza on the other side but if there is no way to get that money back, then why do it? Plans have been proposed by the Tunnel but nothing has been done to carry them out. Again, does it mean that even if Homeland Security gives a positive response, commercial usage may die because of lack of proper facilities. Given the seemingly rocky relationship between Windsor and DCTC would a new operator have any better luck?
Who could the leakor be? Someone close to Macquarie Bank? Possibly, in order to put pressure to get a better deal with the Cities of Windsor and Detroit.
How about someone close to the City of Windsor? Possibly, since the Windsor Tunnel Plaza plans are coming out this week. If one cannot get proper plaza operations in Detroit, then get it done with reverse customs on the Canadian side, as Eddie expressed at Mackinac, and do it at the huge and expanded new Windsor Tunnel Plaza.
There are too many strange Tunnel stories coming out in the media all of a sudden. There is something happening behind the scenes. It will come out soon I am sure.
posted by JoeBlog at 1:22 p.m.
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