The DRTP, which is behind one of the three major proposals in contention for a new Detroit River crossing, says that the selection process has become mired in politics and is creating an uneven playing field.

The DTRP -- a joint venture between Canadian Pacific Railway and Borealis Transportation Infrastructure Trust -- is proposing the Jobs Tunnel Project, which would convert the existing rail tunnel into a truck corridor.

"It has become increasingly evident in recent weeks that political interests are dominating the DRIC study at the expense of objective, technical considerations," said Marge Byington, government affairs director for the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership team. "Our concern is that premature elimination of any alternative by the DRIC based on insufficient analysis will result in wrong decisions being made for this critical international crossing. Planners need to make sure all possible crossing options get sufficient analysis to make sure the best solution is selected. Any missteps at this point in the DRIC process will have negative effects on the economies and communities of Southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario."

The DRIC hasn't finalized its selection, but some observers in the region guess this DRTP announcement is a result of rumours that the Jobs Tunnel project is one of the next proposals to get scratched off the list. Last month, DRIC officials began eliminating sites from contention for a new U.S.-Canada crossing, including locations Downriver and Belle Isle.

The two favoured proposals are the Ambassador twinning plan (something the owners of the Ambassador claim they'll commence despite what the DRIC decision is) and the plan to build an entirely new bridge in southwest Windsor and Detroit. One version of this, designed by NY traffic expert Sam Schwartz, is unanimously endorsed by the City of Windsor.

Byington continues by saying the DRTP has "participated in good faith for more than three years" to engineer and describe how the partnership's plan would work. "And now we are deeply disappointed to learn that political jockeying may carry more weight than engineering reports, feasibility studies, community input and common sense."

In an interview with TodaysTrucking.com this afternoon, Byington denied that she's heard any news concerning the next site to be eliminated from contention. But she did say the press release is a pro-active approach to letting people know, before a decision is made, that the odds are being increasingly stacked against the DRTP plan.

"We have heard from inside sources that the process has turned completely political," she said. "And because of that we really believe that the process has lost its transparency."

When asked just what are the political entities that are manipulating the selection process against her group, Byington cited government officials in Windsor and Detroit, including the mayors of both cities.

She said that it's no secret that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has repeatedly backed the Ambassador Bridge owners in most of their ventures and shrugged off the DRTP plan as a viable crossing alternative. Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has also openly backed the Sam Schwartz plan for a new bridge over other proposals.

"I think it's important for us to speak out against the problems we see now rather than later when people might look at us and think this is all sour grapes," she said.

Byington confirmed that the DRTP is not about to launch a lawsuit, but did add that the group "would not rule anything out" for the future.

A representative from the DRIC did not answer requests for an interview by the time of this posting.