Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) Study

1. Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) Study Canada-U.S. Law Institute 2008 Annual Conference The World’s Longest Undefended Border: Gateway or Checkpoint? April 18-19, 2008, Cleveland, Ohio Sean O’Dell Executive Director, Windsor Gateway Project, Transport Canada

2. Why A Border Transportation Partnership • Need for long-term capacity increase • Within the mandates of: • U.S. Federal Highway Administration • Transport Canada • Michigan Dep’t of Transportation • Ontario Ministry of Transportation • Both countries must agree on location of new crossing to make it happen!

3. The DRIC Study • As part of its long-term strategy, the Partnership is conducting a study to provide for the safe, efficient and secure movement of people and goods across the border. • For three years, teams of experts in Canada and the U.S. have been working on the Detroit River International Crossing Study (DRIC). • We are making excellent progress!

4. Purpose of the DRIC Study The DRIC study is addressing regional transportation and mobility needs: • New border crossing capacity to meet long-term demand • Improved system connectivity to enhance flow of people and goods • Improved border operations and processing capabilities • Reasonable, secure crossing options (redundancy) We are seeking solutions that will minimize community and environmental impacts.

5. Detroit-Windsor: A Vital Link • Approximately 28% of U.S.-Canada surface trade: more than $130 billion. • Over 80% of all goods crossing the Detroit River are carried by truck. • Need to protect transportation services: more than 3.5 million trucks and 10 million cars cross each year. • Significant to the economies of two nations.

6. Ohio-Canada Trade Stats • Ohio exported $18 billion to Canada and imported $15.3 billion from Canada in 2006. • Canada is Ohio’s largest export market, with trade almost equivalent to the state’s export sales to all other countries combined. • 276,500 Ohio jobs are supported by U.S. - Canada trade. • Canadians made more than 507,600 visits to Ohio in 2006, spending over $100 million (USD). • In turn, Ohio residents made 706,600 visits to Canada, spending $280 million.

7. Environmental Assessment – A Coordinated Approach The Partnership has developed a coordinated process that is: • thorough, open and transparent; • fully accessible to the public. On both sides of the border, this coordinated process will: • enable joint selection of a recommended river crossing that meets environmental requirements; • ensure environmental concerns and community impacts are addressed.

8. Broad Consultation Throughout The Project U.S. REGULATORY AGENCIES CANADIAN MUNICIPAL COUNCILS U.S. AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES, PUBLIC CANADIAN AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES, PUBLIC FIRSTNATIONS U.S. CITY COUNCILS U.S. BORDER AGENCIES CDN REGULATORY AGENCIES U.S. PUBLIC THE PARTNERSHIP CANADIAN PUBLIC FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES COMMUNITY CONSULTATION GROUP U.S. PROJECT TEAM EXPERTISE LOCAL AGENCY GROUP MUNICIPAL ADVISORYGROUP CANADIAN PROJECTTEAM EXPERTISE CROSSING OWNERS OPERATORS PROPONENTS LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL PRIVATE SECTOR ADVISORY GROUP CANADIAN BORDER AGENCIES

9. Evaluation Factors • Protection of community and neighborhood characteristics • Consistency with existing and planned land use • Protection of cultural resources • Protection of natural environment • Improvements to regional mobility • Cost and constructability

10. Environmental Assessment Key Study Activities • Developed initial set of crossing alternatives, plaza locations& connecting routes in Canada and the U.S. • Defined area of continued analysis • Presented specific crossing, plaza and access road options • Presented preliminary results of social, economic, environmental and engineering assessments • Identify preferred crossing location, plaza locations & connecting routes in Canada and the U.S. (SPRING 2008) • Finalize engineering and mitigation measures • Complete documentation and submit for approvals

11. Illustrative Alternatives

12. Crossing, Plaza & Route Alternatives

13. Plaza and Crossing Locations

14. Delray Land Use Options

15. An End-to-End Solution • The Canadian DRIC team faces a distinct challenge: - to extend the existing Highway 401 to the new border crossing: • new six-lane highway, approximately 9 km (6 miles) in length. • several alternatives were considered; at-grade, below grade, tunneled, and ‘Parkway’. • Goals are to improve quality of life, to take trucks off city streets, and to improve movement of traffic across the border. • All access road alternatives, as well as plaza and crossing alternatives, will be evaluated against seven factors.

16. Parkway Option • Addresses the future transportation and mobility needs of the region • Responds to local concerns: • Covered sections of highway (short tunnels) at 10 locations to improve community connections across the corridor • Landscaping to reduce visual impacts • Recreational trails for pedestrians, bicycles along & across the corridor • Opportunities for gateway entrance features to Canada, Ontario, Windsor/Essex County

17. Views of the Parkway – Huron Church Line area (looking east)

18. Views of the Parkway – Labelle area (east from EC Row)

19. Next Steps • Continue to consult with the public • Complete the technical and environmental studies • Present a single technically and environmentally preferred alternative • Spring 2008 • Submit final study documents to approving agencies

20. Contact Sean O’Dell Executive Director Windsor Gateway Project Transport Canada (613) 991-4702 OdellS@tc.gc.ca

21. Detroit River International Crossing Study www.partnershipborderstudy.com 1-800-900-2649