(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on May 7, 2009.)
The U.S. and Canadian governments and Canadian Pacific announced plans to jointly invest $6.9 million to boost rail cargo security at North America’s busiest commercial border crossing in Windsor, Ontario.
The proceeds will fund security improvements along a 4.7-mile stretch of CP’s corridor. Work calls for the installation of state-of-the-art surveillance systems from a Walker Road site to the portal of the Detroit River rail tunnel, and special lighting and fencing to secure the corridor. The “Windsor Secure Rail Corridor” partnership project also includes track reconfigurations, and signal and communication system modifications.
“Railroads were among the first to develop, fund and implement an industry-wide security plan following September 11,” said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Green in a prepared statement. “CP strongly supports efforts to increase cross-border security through partnerships such as the Windsor Secure Rail Corridor.”
Previous improvements at Walker Road, including a grade separation, the rail security improvements and future upgrades to a grade separation at Howard Avenue will significantly improve transportation within the city of Windsor and across the U.S.-Canada border, the public/private partners believe.