Bridge Expansion Bridge Expansion Feasibility GroupFeasibility Group

Purpose Purpose

Our group is an independent coalition striving to Our group is an independent coalition striving to provide objective information on the expansion of provide objective information on the expansion of the Ambassador Bridge.the Ambassador Bridge.

Our goal is to inform the general public of the Our goal is to inform the general public of the facts involved with the project, thereby allowing facts involved with the project, thereby allowing open, honest debate of the intended bridge open, honest debate of the intended bridge construction.construction.

Group StructureGroup Structure

Ryan G. Todd: Background, finance, and politicalRyan G. Todd: Background, finance, and political Sheena Sharma: Legal aspectsSheena Sharma: Legal aspects Mike Peres: Environmental and Heritage aspectsMike Peres: Environmental and Heritage aspects Chris Lepain: Alternatives, recommendations, Chris Lepain: Alternatives, recommendations,

conclusionconclusion Faisal Rehman: Information tech., technical Faisal Rehman: Information tech., technical

aspectsaspects

BackgroundBackground Ambassador Bridge privately owned by Manuel “Matty” Ambassador Bridge privately owned by Manuel “Matty”

Moroun.Moroun. Originally built in 1929.Originally built in 1929. Busiest commercial crossing in North America, moving Busiest commercial crossing in North America, moving

nearly $100 billion annually across the border.nearly $100 billion annually across the border. Heavy traffic flow in late 90’s spurred the need for Heavy traffic flow in late 90’s spurred the need for

additional span.additional span. Current traffic flow is reduced, but will eventually grow.Current traffic flow is reduced, but will eventually grow. New, 6-lane span intended to built directly adjacent to New, 6-lane span intended to built directly adjacent to

existing bridge with dedicated truck traffic intended.existing bridge with dedicated truck traffic intended. Bridge will cost approximately 1 billion dollars and is Bridge will cost approximately 1 billion dollars and is

privately funded.privately funded.

Feasibility FactorsFeasibility Factors

Environmental Environmental FinancialFinancial HeritageHeritage LegalLegal AlternativesAlternatives Political issuesPolitical issues

Michael PeresMichael Peres

Environmental Advantages Environmental Advantages - Decreased Air pollution -> No traffic lights Decreased Air pollution -> No traffic lights

and more lanesand more lanes- Less EmissionsLess Emissions- No Ecosystems effectedNo Ecosystems effectedHuman HealthHuman Health- No effectNo effect- Ware and tare on streets Ware and tare on streets - Urban DumpingUrban Dumping

Sheena SharmaSheena Sharma

Legal IssuesLegal Issues

Lawsuits Lawsuits

-Fail to follow federal guidelines -Fail to follow federal guidelines

-racial and income discrimination -racial and income discrimination

Christine LepainChristine Lepain

DRTP - Detroit River Tunnel PartnershipDRTP - Detroit River Tunnel Partnership

• Created 6 weeks after 9/11Created 6 weeks after 9/11

• Partnership between the Canadian Pacific Railway and a subsidiary of Partnership between the Canadian Pacific Railway and a subsidiary of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System pensionthe Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System pension

• Convert an existing 100-year-old train tunnel into a truck throughway Convert an existing 100-year-old train tunnel into a truck throughway and bore another tunnel downriver for the displaced trainsand bore another tunnel downriver for the displaced trains

• The government would have paid $170 million and the remaining $430 The government would have paid $170 million and the remaining $430 million would have been privately funded million would have been privately funded

• Idea was scrapped because Idea was scrapped because 1.1. It would have required a 6-lane feeder road which would have had It would have required a 6-lane feeder road which would have had

a major impact on numerous urban communities a major impact on numerous urban communities 2.2. It was determined that it still would not have served the long-term It was determined that it still would not have served the long-term

demand.demand.

AlternativesAlternatives

DRIC - Detroit River International CrossingDRIC - Detroit River International Crossing

• Supported by opponents of the Ambassador Supported by opponents of the Ambassador Bridge Twin-span.Bridge Twin-span.

• Crossing would connect the Detroit Delray Crossing would connect the Detroit Delray neighborhood north of Zug Island to an area on neighborhood north of Zug Island to an area on the Canadian side located between the the Canadian side located between the Canadian Salt Mine Company and the Brighton Canadian Salt Mine Company and the Brighton Beach Power Plant.Beach Power Plant.

• Publicly funded and will cost between 1.5 and 3 Publicly funded and will cost between 1.5 and 3 billion dollars to construct.billion dollars to construct.

Although there is some strong political opposition to Although there is some strong political opposition to the Ambassador Bridge Twin-span, it has been the Ambassador Bridge Twin-span, it has been determined that Manuel, Matty, Maroun should be determined that Manuel, Matty, Maroun should be allowed to continue with the expansion.allowed to continue with the expansion.

The facts presented prove that the Twin-span will The facts presented prove that the Twin-span will not have a detrimental impact upon the not have a detrimental impact upon the environment, it will adequately accommodate the environment, it will adequately accommodate the expected traffic volume increases and it is the expected traffic volume increases and it is the more financially viable option for the taxpayers.more financially viable option for the taxpayers.

The VideoThe Video

http://www.ambassadorbridge.com/ads/http://www.ambassadorbridge.com/ads/bridge.htmlbridge.html

Questions ?Questions ?