Why We Need A Replacement Rail Tunnel At The Detroit-Windsor Crossing

Current Status:1. The Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (DRTP)
1. The current rail tunnel under the Detroit River iswould like to build a replacement rail tunnel near
100 years old and links southwest Detroit andthe existing rail tunnel
southeast Ontario. It is owned and operated as an2. The replacement rail tunnel will bring the
ongoing business by the Detroit River Tunnelfollowing to the Detroit/Windsor region:
Partnership (DRTP).1. Over 1,700 jobs
2. The DRTP consists of Canadian Pacific Railway2. Over $600 million in investment
(CPR) and Borealis Infrastructure Trust, a part of3. It will bring more rail freight to the region
the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement4. It will help save current and future jobs
System (OMERS)Internal Diameter
3. The current rail tunnel carries over 460,000 rail27.5 ft. (8.4 m)
cars per yearTunnel Length
4. The Detroit/Windsor rail tunnel is a vital link9,334 ft. (2,845 m)
between the Port of Montreal, the rest of CanadaSub-River Length
and the entire U.S. Midwest. Canadian Pacific2,640 ft. (750 m)
Railway also uses this rail tunnel to reach into theMaximum Grade
southern and southwestern United States as well2.15%
as Mexico.Lining Thickness
5. The existing tunnel although in excellent physical1.6 ft. (0.5 m)
shape finds itself undersized and unable to handleRiver Depth
today's taller rail cars49.2 ft. (15 m)
6. The existing rail tunnel has been designated asMinimum Cover - River
critical infrastructure by Homeland Security18 ft. (5.5 m)
The Problem:Minimum Cover - Land
1. Container traffic out of the Port of Montreal is13.1 ft. (4 m)
expected to double in the next ten years andOperating Speed
utilizing more and more double-stacked container50 mph (80 kph)
cars; automotive companies are shipping vehicles5. Replacement Rail Tunnel Specs
and auto parts in the new, high-capacity AutomaxIt will be the first transportation infrastructure in
rail carsover 75 years at this border crossing
2. The existing Detroit/Windsor rail tunnel is not6. The DRTP has completed engineering to ensure
tall enough to allow double-stacked container carsthe viability of this project
or Automax cars to pass through.7. Some of the support the replacement rail
3. Without a replacement rail tunnel, rail service willtunnel includes: MDOT, Detroit Renaissance, the
have reduced optionsDetroit Regional Chamber, Wayne County
4. The replacement rail tunnel will allow Detroit toExecutive Robert Ficano, Senator Debbie
become a logistics hubStabenow, Teamsters President James P. Hoffa,
5.A replacement rail tunnel will enhance economicalthe UAW and many other government, business
rail freight shipping throughout the Midwest andand labor leaders
the South.8.
The Solution: