MP Brian Masse wants Windsor-Detroit ferry service
Until 1929, ferries made frequent crossings of the Detroit River, carrying passengers and vehicles between Windsor and Detroit.
Now, a local MP tells CBC News he's working on plans to bring the service back. Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse believes a ferry service would work.
He said it would help the tourist industry on both sides of the river and said it would be a way of connecting bike trails.
"To me, this would be an exciting opportunity to put pedestrians and cyclists back and forth along the water," Masse said. "Detroit has a marvellous waterfront now. They've worked hard on it and need to be commended for it. Ours, of course, is really nice and has been remodelled recently. This could be an exciting time to share both of our cultures again."
Todd Scott is the co-ordinator of Detroit Greenways and said Masse is sailing in the right direction with his ferry proposal.
"If you look at some of the events happening in Detroit and Windsor, to be able to connect them both [would be great]," he said. "If you look at the convention business, you could bring people to Detroit and they can visit Canada easily because these folks wouldn't have a car."
Masse said there's a congressman on the Michigan side who also supports a new ferry service. The two have met to discuss the idea.
Masse admitted, there's still a lot of work to do on the proposal. Masse said everything is in the preliminary stages. When the proposal is ready, he will seek public support as he tries to convince authorities to proceed with a ferry service.
