Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group

02/05/2009: U.S. Reps. Slaughter and McHugh Ask President Obama to Restart Shared Border Management Negotiations
Dear President Obama: As you prepare for your February 19, 2009 trip to Canada , we would like to make you aware of a pressing US-Canada border issue that has an immediate and direct effect on our districts.

02/05/2009: "Lawmakers Want Shared-border Deal," Buffalo Business First
Two upstate members of Congress has asked President Obama to restart shared-border management discussions with the Canadian government.

10/14/2008: "Private International Bridge Stalled By Lack of Government Support," The Buffalo News
Although rebuffed in its try for a permit, a Detroit company promised to press ahead with its proposal to build and operate a bridge mainly for trucks across the Niagara River in Buffalo.

09/20/2008: "Peace Bridge Beats Out Its Detroit Rival," The Buffalo News
For the first time in at least two decades, the Peace Bridge is the No. 1 choice for passenger vehicles traveling between the United States and Canada.

02/18/2008: "Peace Bridge Authority Tweaks New Plaza Plan," WKBW
The plan for a new Peace Bridge and customs plaza includes taking 83 homes on Buffalo's west side from their owners. "I live in the neighborhood and I am a condemned resident," says Peter Joseph Certo, one of the few dozen people in attendance at a meeting to discuss the plan Monday night at the Armory Restaurant.

02/16/2008: "Rival Questions Monopoly," Fort Erie Times
Does the Peace Bridge Authority have a monopoly on the bridge business in Fort Erie?

02/16/2008: "Ambassador Niagara Unveils Bridge Plans," Fort Erie Times
The fight between the Peace Bridge Authority and the Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group heated up this past week after Ambassador applied to the U.S. State Department for permission to construct a new bridge linking Fort Erie and Buffalo about 2.5 kilometres north of the existing Peace Bridge.

02/15/2008: "Bridge Group Advances Project," Niagara This Week
The company looking to build a new bridge connecting Fort Erie and Buffalo has taken another step
towards fulfilling its goal.

02/12/2008: "Higgins Wrong to Support Peace Bridge," The Buffalo News

02/08/2008: "Disputed Plan to Build Niagara Bridge Revived," The Buffalo News

02/08/2008: "Rival Bridge Plan Moves Ahead,"Niagara Falls Review
The Peace Bridge is in the midst of expansion plans of its own to ease frequent commercial backups. Those plans would uproot the surrounding Buffalo neighbourhood for a larger U.S. Plaza in the process.

02/08/2008: "Ambassador Bridge Group Advance Plans for Local Span," WNED.org
It continues to be "full steam ahead" for the Michigan-based Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group, the private company that wants to build a new bridge between Buffalo and Fort Erie.

02/01/2008: "Permit Sought for New US-Canada Bridge," Forbes.com
A Michigan company is moving forward with efforts to establish a new border crossing between the United States and Canada to handle truck traffic in one of the northern border's busiest trade corridors.

02/01/2008: "Higgins Seems to Have Lost His Way," The Buffalo News

01/21/2008: "New Studies Could Lead to Changes, Widening Along QEW," Niagara Falls Review
Changes possible at the QEW Interchange.

01/02/2008: EPA Declares the PBA's DEIS Insufficient

01/02/2008: The National Trust for Historic Preservation recommends that the FHWA and PBA consider alternatives not included in PBA DEIS

8/5/2007: "Schumer: Feds should double bridge fund," Newsday
US Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, will introduce legislation next month to double federal transportation bill. Click here to see the benefits of Ambassador Niagara's privately funded proposal.

7/29/2007: "So far, bridge's 2nd span is a mixed blessing," The Times Herald
Could Port Huron's problems as they build the plaza required for their twin span spell problems for the Peace Bridge's twin span?

7/25/2007: "Work on a better truck alternative," The Buffalo News

7/6/2007: Click here to watch Jim Kane of Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group speak to Melanie Pritchard of Channel 7 about the proposed bridge as a solution to the region's transportation woes.

5/31/2007: "Border Bridge Delays Spark Angry Words from Officials," Niagara Falls Review

5/26/2007: "Letter to the Editor: Where's the Vision?" The Fort Erie Times

4/28/2007: "A Bridge too far?," The Globe and Mail

4/26/2007: "Shared inspection plaza concept dropped," The Buffalo News
Bush administration drops plans for shared border management at the Peace Bridge. Bridge expansion within the Peace Bridge corridor will now require taking an additional 68 residential and business properties.

4/25/2007: "Peace Bridge talks end," Toronto Star

3/14/2007: "Senator William Stachowski Introduces Legislation Designed to Limit State Debt and "Backdoor Borrowing," WNY Politics

2/20/2007: "Peace Bridge tolls go up in April," The Buffalo News
Peace Bridge officials announce toll increase to pay for second bridge and a new plaza in the US.

2/18/2007: "State taking new tack on economic development," The Buffalo News
Pat Foye and Dan Gundersen, co-chairmen of the Empire State Development Corporation, pledge to use public resources to spur private investment.

2/18/2007: "Bankers aim to buy NY assets," Crain's New York Business
Investment bankers advocate selling public assets to private companies.

2/14/2007: "Time to treat transportation funding as a business, DOT Secretary Peters tells U.S. commerce leaders," Logistics Management
This article was posted on 2/14/2007, but we want to bring it to your attention. US Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters advocates treating transportation as a business. She calls private enterprise in transportation projects "one of the most exciting things in transportation today."

1/26/2007: "End Peace Bridge delay," The Buffalo News
Buffalo News editorial argues for acceptance of shared border management at cost of Canadian civil rights laws. But, what about Ambassador Niagara's alternatives that won't cost parkland or force Canada to compromise civil principles?

1/26/2007: "MDOT shoves plaza expansion plan down Port Huron's throat," The Times Herald
Much like what could happen in Buffalo without considering Ambassador Niagara's plans, Michigan's Department of Transportation moves forward with plan to build bridge customs plan at the Blue Water Bridge with project footprint in the heart of Port Huron, Michigan.

1/22/2007: "Local officials try to bridge decision gap," The Buffalo News
Mayors of Buffalo and Fort Erie join PBA chairman Paul Koessler to set early spring 2007 deadline for Shared Border Management agreement.

1/19/2007: "Slaughter tries to solve key Peace Bridge issue," The Buffalo News
Peace Bridge delayed again--no resolution on Shared Border Accord.

1/12/2007: "Ottawa aims to speed cargo crossings," The Globe and Mail
Harper government releases plan to expedite cross border shipments while others worry about contingency plans at the Ambassador Bridge.

1/4/2007: "Spitzer maps route to revival," The Buffalo News
Spitzer calls for reform of public authorities, which he refers to as "patronage dumping grounds," in his first State of the State address.

12/30/2006: "Bridge tolls to go up," The Buffalo News
Rainbow, Whirlpool Rapids and Lewiston-Queenston raise rates to $3 round trip for travelers paying in US currency.

11/25/2006: "Infrastructure funding gets revamp: Flaherty," Niagara Falls Review
Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tells reporter that Ottawa sees private role in financing, construction and operation of public facilities around Canada, including toll roads.

11/24/2006: "Private sector role to build border bridge applauded," Niagara Falls Review
Ottawa's consideration of allowing significant private sector involvement at the proposed second bridge in Windsor/Detroit bodes well for Ambassador Niagara's proposal.

11/21/2006: "Ottawa entertains private role in new bridge at Canada's busiest border crossing," Canadian Press
Recent shift of Canadian federal government towards private operation--and construction and finance--of an international border crossing backed by public poll.

11/16/2006: "Tories to unveil private sector funded solution to border congestion, " Vancouver Sun
The Canadian federal government is expected to announce Monday a privately funded crossing at the Detroit River.

11/3/2006: "Bridge expansion shouldn't gobble up parkland: Redekop," Niagara Falls Review
Fort Erie's Mayor Wayne Redekop questions shared-border management plans which grant Buffalo a gain in parkland, yet take parkland in Fort Erie.

10/30/2006: "Niagara Thruway users cheer as tolls go by the wayside,"The Buffalo News
The road to the successful completion of the Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group Project became clearer when the New York State Thruway Authority voted unanimously to stop collecting tolls at the Black Rock toll barrier, located on the Niagara Section of the New York State Thruway (I-190). A cause of frequent traffic tie-ups, the toll barrier helped fan the flames of opposition against Ambassador Niagara’s proposal to construct a privately funded bridge immediately north of the barrier. With the instantaneous removal of the toll barrier, the unsubstantiated fear of increased traffic congestion due to the bridge’s proximity to the toll barrier has been put to rest.

10/2/2006: "Vision, optimism are keys to success," The Buffalo News

9/1/2006: "On to Spitzer's larger task," The Buffalo News
Editorial calls for further reform of public authorities, which have the ability to spend public funds without public approval. The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority (PBA) is one of New York State's 643 public authorities.

9/1/2006: "Transportation council to study freight opportunities," Business First of Buffalo
The Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC) is set to launch a $600,000 study funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to examine the region's challenges and opportunities to becoming an international freight gateway. Truck-based freight traffic is expected to double by the year 2020 while port traffic is expected to increase by 200%.

8/30/2006: "WNY residents fed up with state government," The Buffalo News
Fed up with public spending? So are we. Building the Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge will not be funded by your taxes-just another reason why the Ambassador Niagara project is good for WNY and Southern Ontario.

7/19/2006: "Redekop won't seek re-election," The Niagara Falls Review
Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop will not seek re-election in November. He has held the post since December 1, 1997.

7/1/2006: "Progress on waterfront," The Buffalo News
Buffalo News editorial opines that security issues at border need resolution, although no resolution has been sent forth from officials in Canada and the United States

6/16/2006: "It's time to get to work on Peace Bridge Project," The Buffalo News
Entry to the News' "Everybody's Column" calls for the construction of a new bridge from Buffalo to Canada, in addition to necessary changes at the Peace Bridge.

4/26/2006: "Tabled bill gives control of bridges to Ottawa," Niagara Falls Review
Canada's Federal Transportation Minister, Lawrence Cannon, introduced legislation to give the Canadian federal government oversight over international bridges and tunnels. Niagara Falls MP Rob Nicholson states, "This is exactly what we need to clear up any ambiguity."

4/5/2006: "Ambassador Bridge has good record for traffic" The Windsor Star
Letter to the Editor praises the Ambassador Bridge Company for its ability to handle traffic flow at the Ambassador Bridge.

3/30/2006: "The Casino Chronicles: Barry E. Snyder Goes Showbiz," Artvoice
Columnist Bruce Jackson recognizes the City of Buffalo's authority to grant, or not grant, easements to development projects, stating: "There is specific historical precedence for this in Buffalo: Seven years ago, then-Mayor Anthony Masiello stopped the Peace Bridge twin span expansion project cold by refusing to issue easements to the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority. The PBA took Masiello to court—and lost."

3/20/2006: "Infrastructure: A Road to Riches?" Washington Post
Infrastructure privatization has taken off in Australia and Canada, but not the United States. A recent lease agreement between global, private infrastructure management companies and the City of Chicago and State of Indiana may change the role of government in managing key roadways.

3/09/2006: "Sweet Nothings: When 'Dead Deals' Are Better Than 'Done Deals,'" Artvoice
Bruce Jackson's most recent column re-examines the Peace Bridge and muses, "Sometimes the best public works projects are those in which the deal is never done at all . . . Sometimes the worst thing that can happen with a public works project is for it to come about just as its planners and proponents desired and designed."

3/02/2006: "No shared-border conspiracy: Rienas," Niagara Falls Review
PBA design confirms loss of parkland in Fort Erie to accommodate shared border management at the Peace Bridge.

3/01/2006: "Buffalo's gain is Fort Erie's loss: citizen's lobby group ," Niagara Falls Review
Fort Erie citizen's group provides documents to support case that shared border management at the Peace Bridge, placing all customs duties on the Canadian side of the Niagara River, will destroy Niagara Parks Commission parkland at the cost of adding green space on the US side of the bridge.

2/23/2006: "Peace Bridge faces no build option," Niagara Falls Review
Fort Erie officials indicate that Peace Bridge should continue with plans, as Ambassador Niagara continues work on its bridge and traffic volumes will likely rebound.

2/21/2006: "Hevesi Proposes Legislation Providing Oversight of Contracts Awarded by State Authorities," Office of the New York State Comptroller, Alan G. Hevesi," Niagara Falls Review
NYS Comptroller Alan Hevesi wants more oversight of public authority procurement practices and finds multiple contracts, valued at $1.7 million, between the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority and one transportation engineering firm questionable.

2/15/2006: "Shared border management at Peace Bridge is a bad idea," The Buffalo News
While improvements at the Peace Bridge reduce immediate need for the expansion of Peace Bridge, a second bridge between Fort Erie and Buffalo is required to ensure continuity of international transport, in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

2/13/2006: "Reinas' comments serve to belabor Peace Bridge," The Buffalo News

2/11/2006: "Border town dilemma," Niagara Falls Review
While improvements at the Peace Bridge reduce immediate need for the expansion of Peace Bridge, a second bridge between Fort Erie and Buffalo is required to ensure continuity of international transport, in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

2/01/2006: "Bridge span stalled," Niagara Falls Review
Delays in deciding legal and administrative framework for shared border management postpone draft environmental impact statement for expansion at the Peace Bridge.

1/28/2006: "Bridge owner blasts studies," The Windsor Star
In an interview with The Windsor Star, Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun states that private ownership of bridge infrastructure is in the best interest of the general public.

1/20/2006: "Canada's Leader Not Opposed to Private Bridge," The Buffalo News
Ambassador Niagara's proposal receives fuel from Prime Minister's comments in favor of private ownership of international bridges that have the support of local officials and residents.

1/19/2006: "Bridge Groups Interpret PM's Comments Differently," The Buffalo News
PM Martin's statements that proposals to construct privately financed international crossings be considered at par with proposals to build publicly financed bridges are questioned by Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority General Manager, Ron Reinas.

1/14/2006: "Border bridges 'high priority:' PM," Niagara Falls Review
During a visit to Niagara Falls, Canadian Prime Minister asserts that international bridges do not have to be publicly owned.

12/23/2005: "Detroit bridge owner seeks another," The Buffalo News
Manual "Matty" Moroun's plans to build US / Canada crossings in Detroit - Windsor and Buffalo - Fort Erie.

12/21/2005: "Pantry Receives Timely Donations," Riverside Review
Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group donates $1,000 to the Black Rock Riverside Emergency Food Pantry.

12/21/2005: "Detroit Bridge Baron, Buffett Rival, May Run New Span to Canada," Bloomberg.com
Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority deal may allow the Ambassador Bridge to operate much needed second crossing in Detroit - Windsor.

12/19/2005: "Canadian agency rejects rival to Peace Bridge," The Buffalo News
Although Transport Canada asserts that it will not review Ambassador Niagara's plan for a new border crossing that would expedite international trade, Ambassador Niagara will move ahead with its environmental review.

Ambassador Niagara's legal guidance finds the PBA's claims to this franchise invalid on several grounds. Read our FAQs.

12/18/2005: "Birdland on the Niagara," The Buffalo News
The Niagara River Corridor, the first internationally recognized, globally significant Important Bird Area, deserves protection from local, state and federal agencies, asserts this piece, included in The Buffalo News' Sunday Viewpoints section.

11/30/2005: "Shadow Government: The Peace Bridge Authority," WGRZ, Channel 2, Buffalo, NY
As part of Channel 2's investigation into public authorities, entities in NYS that are funded by taxes and tolls but are not run by elected officials and have little accountability, Aaron Saykin interviews Peace Bridge Authority chairman John Lopinski. Both State Comptroller Alan Hevesi and Attorney General Eliot Sptizer have advocated reforms of public authorities, many of which operate with substantial debts.

11/27/2005: "Hevesi cracking down on authorities," The Buffalo News
Murray Light, former editor of The Buffalo News, expresses his agreement with New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi on reforming NY's 255 public authorities, which are currently able to borrow large sums of money, to be repaid by taxpayers, without public consent.

11/17/2005: "Let Ambassador Group build signature bridge," The Buffalo News
Opinion piece calls for the Peace Bridge Authority to support the Ambassador Niagara Bridge proposal and implores Ambassador Niagara to solicit public comment on their proposal.

We want your comments. Click here.

11/14/2005: "U.S., Canada delaying bridge," The Buffalo News
Editorial asserts that government hesitation in formulating a shared border management agreement further delays the Peace Bridge project. Recent suggestions from the government suggest that the shared border management option will require more land than originally anticipated.

Read here how Ambassador Niagara's proposal will accommodate many different plaza designs, due to the large amount of land available within the International Railroad Bridge corridor.

11/10/2005: "Mickey Blashfield: Boost 'check out' at border crossing," Lansing State Journal
Mickey Blashfield, government relations director for Ambassador Bridge, explains Ambassador's investment in expediting cross border trade.

11/01/2005: "Work officially begins on entrance to Squaw Island Park," The Buffalo News
State and city monies will fund construction of grand gateway from Niagara Street to Squaw Island, near the International Railroad Bridge.

10/20/2005: "Bridge owner has big plans for border," Detroit Free Press
Ambassador of Detroit proposes expansion of US Customs inspection facilities in Detroit that will create 3,000 jobs, increase the speed of traffic across the bridge, and spur retail and import/export development.