Manufacturing Leader Favors Detroit River Tunnel Partnership Jobs Tunnel

DETROIT, June 28 -- A nationally prominent industrialist has joined other proponents of the Detroit River tunnel project calling it a vital part of Michigan's efforts to protect manufacturing jobs by helping companies compete more efficiently in world markets.

After considering other proposals to ease chronic border delays, Richard E. Dauch, Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of American Axle & Manufacturing Inc., endorsed the Jobs Tunnel truck route and enlarged train tunnel. Dauch said his corporation "supports the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership Jobs Tunnel ... for improving and expanding the Detroit/Windsor border crossing infrastructure."

The Jobs Tunnel, financed by the private Detroit River Tunnel Partnership, would convert an existing rail tunnel into a two-lane truck route. A new train tunnel would be built alongside for double-stacked freight cars.

In a letter to Marge Byington, government affairs director of the partnership, Dauch described the busy border as "a major point of international commerce for the global automotive industry" and added: "Transportation bottlenecks, delays and barriers ... must be eliminated."

The executive also is chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers and co-chairman of the "Manufacturing Matters" summit hosted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm last December in Plymouth, Mich.

AAM, which makes driveline systems and modules, axles, driveshafts and forged products, has nearly 12,000 employees at 24 facilities in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Brazil, Mexico, India, Asia and the United Kingdom. With nearly half of its $4-billion in annual business stemming from its Detroit complex, Dauch stressed: "It is critically important to AAM that the flow of materials and products to and from our Detroit complex take place freely and expeditiously."

The company Co-Founder warned that the Detroit River route "is at near- maximum capacity levels." Noting that auto makers rely on minimal inventories and struggle to cut transportation costs, Dauch said: "Missed or late deliveries can have significant negative consequences in this demanding environment."

His two-page letter concluded: "Failure to provide the necessary (border) facilities puts jobs related to the automotive industry in the greater Detroit community at risk."

That echoed a warning from Dauch in a May 10 address to the Detroit Economic Club that was titled "Detroit in the Cross-Hairs." Commenting on "global competition that is far more brutal and relentless than we have ever experienced," he described the stakes starkly: "The absolute survival of Detroit's auto industry as we have known it."

The corporate leader supplements support from union presidents, Michigan congressional delegation members, community groups and other business executives as the Jobs Tunnel proceeds through an environmental assessment process and other government reviews on both sides of the border.

Byington commented: "Dick Dauch understands that our project is good for businesses, good for workers and good for Michigan. Like the labor leaders and elected officials among our supporters, he recognizes that it's vital to move ahead now to add capacity at this important crossing."

The Detroit-Windsor border is the world's busiest international trade route, with an average of 10,000 trucks a day crossing the 75-year-old Ambassador Bridge. Waits often exceed three hours.

The partnership behind the Jobs Tunnel consists of Canadian Pacific Railway and Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust, a subsidiary of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). Construction is estimated to cost $430 million, with no state or local money requested.

Its broad range of supporters include UAW international president Ron Gettelfinger, International Brotherhood of Teamsters general president James P. Hoffa, Michigan AFL-CIO president Mark Gaffney, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Reps. John Dingell and John Conyers, Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano, Detroit Renaissance, The Detroit News and manufacturing firms on both sides of the border.

More details are at http://www.thejobstunnel.com/ .