Tunnel bus remains grounded, despite reopening of land border

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Transit Windsor will not restart its tunnel bus service anytime soon, despite the reopening of the land border between the US and Canada.

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The announcement was made on Thursday by the Windsor city bus service, which cited current cross-border travel rules that require Canadian-bound passengers to have a negative molecular COVID-19 test as the main hurdle. Having each passenger produce a negative test would add “complexity” to the customs clearance process, Transit Windsor said in a press release.

“Current rules effectively prohibit passengers on day trips, and current public health regulations limit the number of passengers on board, reducing the operational viability of the tunnel bus at this time.”

He said that if the Canadian government changes its testing requirements, it also requires full vaccination, it will review the decision.

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The White House recently announced that fully vaccinated Canadians can resume crossing the border for non-essential travel beginning Nov. 8 after a 19-month shutdown. They do not have to provide a negative test, but providing the expensive molecular test upon returning to Canada remains an impediment. Canada reopened its land border for non-essential travel in August, with the test requirement.

Transit Windsor employees must be fully immunized by November 15, in accordance with the City of Windsor immunization policy. If they are not vaccinated, they face unpaid leave, unless they have been granted an exemption for medical or human rights reasons. Passengers must wear face masks while on board.

All bus service was suspended for about a month at the start of the pandemic in 2020, then provided reduced service until September, when full service was resumed. Passenger numbers have steadily improved, but remain at around 50 percent of pre-pandemic numbers, according to the press release.

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