Leveraging the Detroit-Windsor International Metropolis Status

[Lowell]

I have long been of the opinion that one of our greatest unexploited assets has been our status as an international metropolis. With the Amazon bid I am happy to see a major acknowledgement of that. Consider what Dan Gilbert said when asked for his one minute elevator pitch to Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

"You get a chance to come to a city that is not just a city but represents two countries. And those two countries have a vast and deep amount of talent and labor from Waterloo [[Ontario) all the way to drawing from Chicago."

"We have a path on the real estate to get you your 8 million-plus [[square) feet that nobody has because of the concentration of ownership we have and the land that we have and the developments that can happen," Gilbert said. "Your million [[square) feet that you need in 2019, we have it for you in beautiful, renovated, cool downtown buildings."

The only other recent sizable effort has been the Gordie Howe Bridge, although that has been largely one-sided [Canadian] and of much lesser potential impact.

The biggest set back has been the post 9/11 security frenzy. To really make this happen we need a joint security treaty with Canada to open the border, and redeploy security to our other international ports of entry.

How else could we use this advantage?

[Canadian Visitor]

Lowell, I laud your vision.

That said, I don't see any prospect of 'open borders' between Canada and the U.S. in the foreseeable future.

The idea actually wouldn't be very popular in Canada.

Right now the pre-clearance expansion bill that Canada and the U.S. negotiated, extending pre-clearance to and Toronto's Island Airport, Montreal's main rail station among other sites, and which passed Congress after much lobbying is held up here.

The Gov't of Canada was taken aback by strong opposition to new powers for U.S. border guards to carry firearms on Canadian soil and to have expanded powers of detention.

I suspect it will pass......but there may yet be a need to renegotiate some items....to smooth things over.

Canadian's lack of enthusiasm for Americans' w/guns makes checkpoints likely for the immediate future; never mind any issues one might have passing such a proposal in the U.S. which I doubt would be inconsiderable.

That said, I'm sure much can and should be done to make border crossing less of a hassle.

****

Instead of starting there, though, I would ask beyond nice symbolism, what advantages are conferred upon both Detroit and Windsor by virtue of their proximity to each other and the border; and how could those aid in economic development and raising the standard of living?

I have a few thoughts:

Business:

Advantage of border location for single or close-proximity offices to oversee all corporate operations for the U.S. and Canada.

Advantage of access to different 'systems' for education/health etc. on both sides of border [[subject to approvals/arrangements and choice of living location for staff).

Access to trans-national labour pool.

****

For residents

- Expanded access to goods and services which might otherwise be found on only one side of the border [[less of an issue in the online era, but still and advantage)

- If utilized properly, ability to use the range of skills/education and healthcare on offer to advance both cities/countries local quality of life.

- Ability to offer unique choice in recreational opportunities.

****

What that might look like [[action items?)

In a time where Detroit remains challenged in delivery of quality public education, why not consider a program that sends students to learn in Canada for a year [[non-residential, daily border crossing by school bus w/nexus approval?

The Greater Essex School District has large numbers of international students now, and charges tuition of $11,000 CDN for Elementary, and $12,000 Cdn for High School.

Pretty sure that would be a net savings to Michigan taxpayers at current expense rates.

There's a question of how many students Windsor could absorb, but if for argument's sake this was done for Grade 8's, taking 1,000 across the border for a year, would represent, 14,000 students for every cycle of kids [[pre-k to Grade 12). Over a lifetime [[84 years) one would see 84,000 Detroiters who got an international exchange year; and still got to sleep in their own bed at night.

***

What about taking similar advantage of the extensive French-immersion system in Canada. A change to add linguistic advantages in a global world?

****

Utlizing the advantage of various post-secondary institutions w/expertise in Law, Business, Medicine to issue more international joint-degrees.

An MBA from both sides of the border than confers knowledge you need to run businesses on both sides of the border, a law degree that would allow you to practice on both sides of the border. etc.

***

Deliver on ease of border crossing in manageable ways.

- improved infrastructure

- joint student visas for Canada U.S. issued to students from around the world or locals attending institutions on both sides of the border for shared degrees.

- Improve 'customer service' from border guards.....sorry, but especially on the U.S. side.

- Better market Nexus/enhanced Licences for border crossing. Consider waving fees for a limited time to increase uptake.

- Jointly pursue global economic interests that are cross-border in scale; consider the same for tourism.

- Look at the planning opportunities that offer both real quality of life and symbolic resonance. [[I'm thinking that Ontario is piecing together a Waterfront Trail along all of its Great Lakes frontage.
How about one on the US side from the Gordie Howe to the Sarnia crossing? Market as one big cycling tourism/quality of life offer for the region.

- Get US Media to pick up more relevant stories about Windsor/Ontario in the Detroit area. The NY times has six reporters dedicated to covering Canada; so far as I know, DFP has none. Cross-pollination of knowledge and connections is key.

- Improve connectivity to desirable hubs beyond the region on both sides of the border. Detroit to Ann-Arbor would be a start; While Windsor could work on connections to London, Waterloo and Toronto.

Connections would include small regional air connections and higher speed rail.

[Canadian Visitor]

Another interesting idea, to me, would be formalizing an arrangement under which Henry Ford Hospital operated partially w/in the Ontario Health System.

It already provides select 'advanced and emergency' healthcare to some in Windsor.

That operates generally on a deal between Ontario and HF for certain types of services. Ontario pays cash.

What about expanding the scope, and changing cash to the ability to deliver a service to a patient on either side of the border, on either side of the border?

Exchange of services more than cash.

Ontario gets access to certain services that can't be justified based on Windsor alone, that are currently delivered urgently in Detroit, or patients are transferred to London or Toronto.

This would save on transfer costs and might allow some Windsor services to be routinely delivered by HF.

On the side, healthcare in Canada can be delivered more cheaply than in the US. Maybe HF moves some operations to Windsor, where savings are material, patients go the other way?

Which makes me wonder; what if Ontario allowed residents of Michigan to buy access to our Health Insurance program? What about U.S. employers? Complicated and far-reaching......

[Bigb23]

That said, I don't see any prospect of 'open borders' between Canada and the U.S. in the foreseeable future.

Apparently, because I had an impaired driving charge 27 years ago, I'm no longer welcome to your great country. Your loss and mine.

[southen]

I would take the Gondola that the Windsor Mayor recently talked about reviving or a water taxi. Anything that allows people to travel from one place to another without have to travel by car.

[401don]

I would take the Gondola that the Windsor Mayor recently talked about reviving or a water taxi. Anything that allows people to travel from one place to another without have to travel by car.

Sounds nice in theory but is it really practical? How many Detroiters really have a reason to cross over to downtown Windsor. Almost all of the traffic is the other direction for obvious reasons and the tunnel bus conveniently drops riders off at stadia and other points of interest. Add in the cost of border crossings to that of running these other modes of transit and it's just not realistic.

[southen]

Sounds nice in theory but is it really practical? How many Detroiters really have a reason to cross over to downtown Windsor. Almost all of the traffic is the other direction for obvious reasons and the tunnel bus conveniently drops riders off at stadia and other points of interest. Add in the cost of border crossings to that of running these other modes of transit and it's just not realistic.

I don't think for a second the the gondola is practical and I would be opposed to it if it took any taxpayer resources. I just think it is an interesting way to further tie together the two cities/two countries. Who wants to take a bus through a dank tunnel when you can be 170 feet over the river with incredible views?

That somewhat ties into the water taxi idea as well. Sure, it will be more expensive than a bus, but I want the experience. I have been fortunate enough to work a few events on yachts that go by the skyline, it is breathtaking. I think people would gladly pay a bit more for that view and experience. The Port of Detroit building actually contains security equipment for when cruise ships dock there, so it is possible to do screening before sending people across the river.

[davewindsor]

Sounds nice in theory but is it really practical? How many Detroiters really have a reason to cross over to downtown Windsor. Almost all of the traffic is the other direction for obvious reasons and the tunnel bus conveniently drops riders off at stadia and other points of interest. Add in the cost of border crossings to that of running these other modes of transit and it's just not realistic.

Is the ferry that moves cars and people from Kingsville and Leamington several times a day to Sandusky, Ohio and back really "practical"? No, but Canadian taxpayers still subsidize it.

When was the last time something was built by or funded by the Canadian government good value for the taxpayer? While I agree with you that this would be a big waste of money, when is "cost" ever a relevant discussion with a socialist government?

BTW - if you think Americans have little reason to come over to Windsor these days, walk through the Caesar's Windsor parking garage any day of the week. You'll see that half the parked cars have American plates because casino winnings are tax free in Canada and they also draw a lot of Americans to top acts every week at their adjoining collosseum. It's common for me to see plates all the way from Texas and Arizona parked in that garage. Do you think mostly locals could support their payroll of 3,600 employees? They're Windsor's second largest employer. Whether they visit anything else in downtown Windsor is questionable, but the draw to the "downtown Windsor" casino is there.

[bust]

A gondola would definitely be a tourist draw and a great symbol of cooperation that would quickly become an emblem featured in every postcard view of the skyline. Whether it's worth the expense or even feasible I can't say.

After the WTC attacks in NYC there was no transit option across the Hudson River to/from lower Manhattan except a passenger ferry. I used it frequently. It's such a better experience than a PATH train. [[And a PATH train is already so much better than a bus.) That boat ride across the river felt like a mini-vacation, even during the winter. Quite a great way to commute to and from work.

BTW, How do you measure the value of quality of life? It doesn't make sense to assess the merit of ideas like these merely via a comparison of expenses vs. fare receipts.

[401don]

BTW - if you think Americans have little reason to come over to Windsor these days, walk through the Caesar's Windsor parking garage any day of the week. You'll see that half the parked cars have American plates because casino winnings are tax free in Canada and they also draw a lot of Americans to top acts every week at their adjoining collosseum. It's common for me to see plates all the way from Texas and Arizona parked in that garage. Do you think mostly locals could support their payroll of 3,600 employees? They're Windsor's second largest employer. Whether they visit anything else in downtown Windsor is questionable, but the draw to the "downtown Windsor" casino is there.

Sure they come for the casino but are they going to drive in from the burbs and pay to park in downtown Detroit to take the gondola across to the casino?

[313WX]

Sure they come for the casino but are they going to drive in from the burbs and pay to park in downtown Detroit to take the gondola across to the casino?

Not at all, especially if it's more expensive than driving.

[Lowell]

I would like the gondola too, but also think it unlikely. As Bust mentions it would be a visible cooperation symbol as well. It would make money as an amusement ride alone. It would have an obvious advantage over a water taxi that could be shut down for long periods of time during winter hard freezes.

[davewindsor]

Sure they come for the casino but are they going to drive in from the burbs and pay to park in downtown Detroit to take the gondola across to the casino?

Sure, that all depends on what's the draw to downtown Detroit that day. They could see a baseball or hockey game or something else in downtown Detroit and then take a gondola to Caesar's, gamble, and then head back.

Why do people take the tunnel bus now when they could drive?

[davewindsor]

Not at all, especially if it's more expensive than driving.

Why would it be more expensive if the Canadian government subsidizes it like other forms of public transportation? Do I agree it should be a subsidized fare? No. But, that's what would most likely happen because that's Canada's mindset.

It's cheaper to take the tunnel bus than to pay the tunnel tolls unless you're car pooling.

Can you believe that a regular monthly tunnel bus pass is only $95.70 CDN a month? That shouldn't be.

[DetroitNightLights]

Woodward as a retail destination should be continued to the Port Authority area, where a ferry or gondola would act as a pedestrian and bicycle link to a continuation of the retail corridor on Oulette. If done right, the International nature of the two connected retail avenues may be a draw in itself. If for no other reason, linking these two cities would help Detroit and Windsor downtown shopping by giving them just the extra customers they may need to attract larger retailers.

There is a tunnel bus near this location, but tunnel traffic often ties up the bus. An alternative pedestrian only crossing, even if it was just a ferry during peak times in the summer, would be beneficial. I am not sure, but I don't think the tunnel bus can currently accommodate bicycles.

On the Detroit side, the Ren Cen, Cobo, Hart Plaza, and all venues served by the People Mover and QLine would stand to benefit from such a crossing.

On the Windsor side, the Chimczuk Museum, Korean War Memorial, Windsor Community Museum, Capitol Theater, Chrysler Movie Theater, Art Gallery of Windsor, St. Claire College for the Performing Arts, Windsor Transit Center, and the very nice Adventure Bay Family Water Park would all be within walking distance.

Besides water taxis and a gondola, commuter rail service should be looked into via the rail tunnel, and the Ambassador Bridge needs to be reopened to pedestrians. If a water taxi is going to also travel up and down the river, there may be some benefit to making Belle Isle more accessible to residents of Windsor.

[davewindsor]

... I am not sure, but I don't think the tunnel bus can currently accommodate bicycles.
...

Just as an FYI, the tunnel bus can accommodate bicycles if they are put in a bike bag. Companies like Dahon make folding bikes that can be put in a bag and taken out in under a minute [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z8iqmYJZUs.) The Montague Paratrooper is a full size folding moutain bike, but the front wheel has to come off [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF_yMF5bC98)

"Bikes: Due to licensing regulations, bike racks cannot be deployed during Tunnel Bus services, including transportation to Comerica Park or Ford Field. You may disassemble your bike and board the bus with it in a bike bag." [[www.citywindsor.ca/residents/transitwindsor/Routes-and-Schedules/Tunnel-Bus-to-Detroit/Pages/Tunnel-Bus-to-Detroit.aspx)

[DetroitNightLights]

Landing Amazon would be great, but there are hundreds of thousands of smaller e-commerce companies and micro business owners who would benefit from the exact same things that put us on Amazon's radar. If we don't land Amazon, we might want to think about targeting their smaller competitors.

• Besides Canada, the Mexican Consulate is located in the Financial District, providing a direct line of communication with Mexico. The consulate offers assistance to those who wish to trade with Mexico.
• Detroit is home to the only patent office outside of Washington DC. This reduces the time and expense of filing patents, and gives companies a competitive advantage since patents are awarded based on a "first-to-file" system.
• The main post office branch and a UPS facility is open 24 hours. Bypassing local branches and using these shipping facilities directly can save a full day on shipping times, which is huge for a micro business owner. Many other commercial shippers have a huge presence in Detroit and Windsor.
• Temporary office and co-working space is offered throughout the downtowns.

[Jason]

Is there a practical reason why all Michigan ID cards couldn't be enhanced IDs by default? I think that's a bigger problem than physically getting across the river.

[313WX]

Why would it be more expensive if the Canadian government subsidizes it like other forms of public transportation? Do I agree it should be a subsidized fare? No. But, that's what would most likely happen because that's Canada's mindset.

It's cheaper to take the tunnel bus than to pay the tunnel tolls unless you're car pooling.

Can you believe that a regular monthly tunnel bus pass is only $95.70 CDN a month? That shouldn't be.

If the Canadian government subsidizes this boondoggle 100%, then yeah, that's a completely different story.

[DetroitNightLights]

Is there a practical reason why all Michigan ID cards couldn't be enhanced IDs by default? I think that's a bigger problem than physically getting across the river.

Aren't enhanced IDs being phased in nationwide? I thought they were making it so you have to have one even for domestic flights.

[Bham1982]

I don't get what there is to "leverage". Windsor is a small, relatively unimportant Canadian city of no great distinction. That portion of Ontario is mostly flat, boring and lightly populated.

Outside of maybe Point Pelee [[which is basically woods and swamps) not seeing some fantastic underappreciated attractions.

Toledo is much more interesting than Windsor. They have a very good zoo and art museum.

[Canadian Visitor]

I don't get what there is to "leverage". Windsor is a small, relatively unimportant Canadian city of no great distinction. That portion of Ontario is mostly flat, boring and lightly populated.

Outside of maybe Point Pelee [[which is basically woods and swamps) not seeing some fantastic underappreciated attractions.

Toledo is much more interesting than Windsor. They have a very good zoo and art museum.

Good to see you being back to your vacuous, detestable, troll-like posts Bham!

***

Not that he expected a serious reply, but I'll offer that the advantages that accrue in the cross-border situation are already apparent, and the question is one of 'pushing' a higher level of achievement.

An example of an existing advantage is the substantial percentage of nurses at Henry Ford that are Canadian [[almost 1/3), the majority living in Windsor.

This occurs for a variety of reasons, including more nursing graduates per capita in ON, and more with higher training as a conscious choice of the government here to downshift responsibilities to nurses where practical. [[Windsor picks up the advantage of access to certain specialized care, as well as employment opportunities in this trade)

Other advantages accrue given access to an additional University including one with a substantial and credible program in automotive engineering [[Windsor).

The advantage is not in Windsor's size or attractions.

The advantage is the trans-national border itself and the ability to access DIFFERENT educational assets, labour pools, and serve as respective launching points for companies that want to cross the border in terms of business expansion.

The smaller size of Windsor means you don't get all the advantages you would if Detroit were across from Toronto.

However, Windsor is large enough to attract, and retain skilled workers.

Aside from its educational institutions, its in process to get a sizable new mega-hospital [[preliminary budget is in the $1B Cdn range.

***

While culture can be accessed through internet these days; there is still something to be said for easier access to culture w/different global perspectives. Windsor does have its own print media, radio and 2 TV stations.

That too can be utilized to relative advantage [[over say a City 100km further in from the border that would have lesser access to such things.)

***

Particularly important to the U.S. side is ability to access talent from around the world, by maintaining a satellite office in Windsor.

Of course accessing said talent is easier w/Toronto. But its Canada's immigration policy, and there are advantages to proximity.

[Richard]

Aren't enhanced IDs being phased in nationwide? I thought they were making it so you have to have one even for domestic flights.

Last I heard Jan 1 2018 deadline for useing them to fly,I would hate to be trying to fly that week,it will be a mess.

[Bham1982]

Good to see you being back to your vacuous, detestable, troll-like posts Bham!

Apparently the Uber-Canadian poster is offended at an honest, sober depiction of the less-than-overwhelming glories of Windsor/Essex County. I'm utterly devastated...

[archfan]

Last I heard Jan 1 2018 deadline for useing them to fly,I would hate to be trying to fly that week,it will be a mess.

According to the Michigan Sec. of State website, the deadline for domestic travel is Oct. 2020. You don't necessarily need an enhanced license, if your license is REAL ID compatible. My current license has a circle and a star, which would qualify me to fly domestic in 2020. I'll need to upgrade at my next renewal to make sure I can travel internationally. From the site's FAQ:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is an enhanced driver's license or state ID acceptable for domestic air travel? Yes, your enhanced driver’s license is acceptable for domestic air travel. Under the federal REAL ID law, Michigan residents must show a REAL ID-compliant document when flying in the United States beginning Oct. 1, 2020. Your enhanced driver’s license or ID card meets the federal REAL ID standards and may be used when flying domestically.


Michigan also issues another type of driver’s license and state ID that is REAL ID compliant. These licenses and IDs are identified by a gold circle with a star printed in the upper right-hand corner. While these REAL ID licenses and ID cards are accepted for flying domestically, they cannot be used to enter the United States by land or sea when returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean. For that, you’ll need an enhanced license or ID card.


After Oct. 1, 2020, if you do not have an enhanced license or state ID, or a REAL ID license or ID [[with the gold circle and star), you will have to present another form of accepted document when flying in the United States, such as a valid U.S. passport or passport card. The Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov has a complete list of all accepted REAL ID documents.