U.S., Canada Taking Steps to Increase Border Capacity

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omeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Canadian Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan announced plans to increase traffic capacity by 25% in the next year at border crossings between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

The Detroit-Windsor crossings were used by more than 13 million passenger vehicles and nearly 2 million commercial vehicles between 2003 and 2004, the Associated Press reported.

The officials said Canada would begin hiring and training 30 new officers to staff the Detroit-Windsor crossings. In addition, the Free and Secure Trade program would be expanded to seven new commercial crossings.

The Detroit & Canada Tunnel Corp. said in a statement it was planning its own steps to increase capacity at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel including constructing a second commercial lane and inspection area. In addition, Neal Belitsky, vice president and general manager of the DCTC, said FAST would be installed at the tunnel.

Dan Stamper, president of the Ambassador Bridge, said his company would build new FAST truck plazas at the bridge with seven additional dedicated lanes, Canadian Press news services reported.

Ridge and McLellan also announced plans to put a pre-clearance program in place at the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo, N.Y. and Ontario, Reuters reported. And officials said a new crossing between the two countries was planned for the future.

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