Baseball fans will have to continue making other arrangements to get to Detroit from Windsor.
Despite some restrictions being lifted for those crossing the Canada-US border, Transit Windsor will continue to suspend its tunnel bus service to Detroit. That means Tigers fans wanting to enjoy Opening Day Friday at Comerica Park will have to cross another way.
On Friday, the Canadian government dropped the requirement for those arriving from the US to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, and only be fully vaccinated. But, Transit Windsor CEO Tyson Cragg said there are still too many variables to operate the tunnel bus safely.
"The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) requires that Transit Windsor staff must verify the vaccination status of all passengers using the tunnel bus," said Cragg in an email to WindsorNewsToday.ca. "This is incongruent with a public transit operating model and creates operational challenges that would make the service difficult to operate with current resources." The tunnel bus was suspended in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and it has been dormant ever since. Cragg said the City is still monitoring trends with the hope of reinstating the service.
"We know that the tunnel bus is important to our riders, and we want to get back to running it as soon as possible," said Cragg. "Transit Windsor continues to be in regular communication with CBSA, is monitoring the situation, and continues to explore alternative service models to bring back tunnel service in some capacity."
The bus had been a very popular way for Windsorites to travel to Detroit for sports, concerts, and other events at Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Little Caesars Arena. It was also a commuter option for those who work in downtown Detroit. Downtown bus stops provide easy access for riders to transfer to Detroit's Q-Line system to reach other attractions.
Complete information from Transit Windsor about current bus routes and services can be found on its official website.