No. H 066/09
For release - May 6, 2009
WINDSOR - John Baird, Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, announced today that as a result of collaboration by the governments of Canada and the United States, as well as Canadian Pacific (CP), rail cargo security at North America's busiest commercial border crossing has been further enhanced by a joint investment of $8 million to secure a 7.5-km stretch of the CP rail corridor.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the first priority of our Government is to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Canadians," said Minister Baird. "The Windsor Secure Rail Corridor facilitates the free flow of legitimate goods across our shared border. By getting goods moving, we are getting the economy going."
"Railroads were among the first to develop, fund and implement an industry-wide security plan following September 11," said Canadian Pacific President and CEO Fred Green. "CP strongly supports efforts to increase cross-border security through partnerships such as the Windsor Secure Rail Corridor."
Today's announcement for the Windsor Secure Rail Corridor includes the installation of state-of-the-art surveillance technology from the Walker Road site to the portal of the Detroit River rail tunnel, and special lighting and fencing to secure the corridor. It also includes track reconfigurations, and signal and communications modifications.
In October 2008, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced the completion of construction on the Walker Road-CP grade separation. Upon completion, over 30,000 drivers each day in Windsor-Essex now have a direct north-south route no longer interrupted by trains heading to the many businesses and production plants along this key trade corridor on both sides of the border. The improvements at Walker Road, the rail security investments and the future improvements to the grade separation at Howard Avenue will significantly improve transportation within the City of Windsor and across the Canada-U.S. border.
- 30 -
