The Tunnel: Isn't It Ironic

I almost burst out laughing when I saw the Star story that the deal between the City of Detroit and the Bridge Co. is still "in the works." After all of this time and all of this effort, our Mayor may be partnered with the Bridge Co. after all.

If I were a Detroit Councillor, I may not be too happy right about now. In fact, I might even ask for the forgiveness of the Deputy Mayor, Anthony Adams, for daring to question him! He may be right in what he did after all.

The previous Detroit deal with the Bridge Co. that is still on the table might start looking better and better now after the last few months of Tunnel surprises. Has the value of the Tunnel been sharply decreased over the last few months so that whatever Detroit receives is much less now than before? If other possible investors may now be thinking twice about the Tunnel, does that mean that the Bridge Co. price will go down as well? What if the Bridge Co. walks away?

Now Detroit Council members will learn what we have seen over the last 3 years. Our Mayor is strong on talk but short on delivery.

It sounded pretty good at the Joint Councils meeting about the $6.6 million per year dividend that Windsor receives from Tunnel operations and how we ought to work together on a joint operation. However, we learned the other week that this dividend is just about gone now and that the WTC might have to borrow millions from the City. Isn't it amazing how quickly that dividend disappeared!

In passing, thank goodness that Councillor Halberstadt asked the questions at Council the other night or the public would not have known about this. I wonder if this is part of the Tunnel misery that Councillor Budget knew about over a year ago but refused to tell us. Quite a contrast in Councillor styles and informing the public that voters might want to remember on Election Day.

We have learned that traffic volumes have decreased sharply even with low Windsor toll pricing with border crossers using the bridge. Since 1999, the Tunnel's volumes have declined from 9.6 million vehicles to about 6 million in 2005. Revenues have decreased by a third, declining every year from about $18M to $12M since 1999. Cost overruns on the Tunnel Ventilation Building have increased the price from $13M to over $20M. Major changes will have to be made because of security concerns. And the Tunnel Plaza Improvement parking lot joke....$30M although the Senior Levels might pay 2/3 of it.

I hear now that there has been an audit of the Windsor Tunnel Commission. That report should be published immediately so that taxpayers and Detroit Council can know what the shape of the WTC is.

There is not much more to say. The Tunnel news is all bad for Windsor and now for Detroit.

I wonder what the deal will be this time around. A new "public" bridge would NOT improve the Tunnel future since it would provide additional competition. Wouldn't it be hilarious if the two City governments and Transport Canada are forced to beg the Bridge Co. to take over the operation of the Tunnel before it becomes a total mess.

Now that would be ironic, don't you think!