The DRTP That Rohrer-ed

It's good to see that DRTP is contributing to the economy of Windsor by hiring Michael Rohrer as Community and Business Relations advisor. Whether the OMERS pensioners and contributors or the CP Rail shareholders will be pleased is another story.

I know that Mike Hurst has been working very hard lately trying to convince anyone that someone should buy the DRTP corridor so that OMERS/CP Rail can recover some of the huge amounts that they have paid out on this ill-conceived project.

I guess that DRTP never took my advice to call the Bridge Co. to see what their position was on a DRTP link to the Ambassador Bridge. It's probably better that they do not know. Imagine if Mike had called and the Bridge Co. said "NO!" What would the DRTP office have to do then?

It has to be tough work for the DRTP CEO delivering his Green Solution pitch once every so often to a public group of citizens. And the idea of meeting all of the incumbents and candidates for municipal office must be hard for the man who used to be Mayor of Windsor. Thank goodness that Matt Marchand is there to assist.

However, I wanted to warn Michael that things may be tough at DRTP these days. Frankly he should have known that. Did you see the size of the announcement in the Star? PUNY. Where is the full-page or at least half-page ad that we have come to expect from DRTP? Not even a bill-board or two.

I can understand why DRTP is tight with their money. The Consultants at the CCG meeting shot down their proposal, again, even the new Green one. Here are some of the reasons given:

1. A 2-lane truck tunnel under the river does not meet the needs of the project
2. A tunnel being built along the corridor would impact South Windsor negatively since property outside the DRTP right-of-way would be required.
3. The DRTP Customs plaza (located now on Highway 401) would be too far away from the border for CBSA's liking
4. It has problems where it "pops up" on the other side. There are community issues and connection difficulties to the Interstate system.

It may be that Mike Hurst hurts now too. It looks like DRTP is not Rohrer-ing much any more either but it is merely whimper-ing.