Amtrak to create direct passenger rail corridor connecting Chicago, Detroit, Windsor and Toronto

Downtown Detroit’s future as a global innovation and transportation hub was in the spotlight Wednesday, Oct. 15 during the Downtown Detroit Partnership’s (DDP) Fall Forum: Special Edition, in partnership with Michigan Central and the RIVER Collaborative, which took place at The Station at Michigan Central.

More than a dozen leaders from Detroit and Windsor presented at the event, themed “Celebrating Connections, Forging Futures Together.” The program highlighted cross-border collaboration, regional innovation, and major new investments in infrastructure and transit. The event attracted more than 400 attendees, including a diverse mix of Detroit and Windsor based innovators.

DDP CEO Eric B. Larson and Consul General for Canada in Detroit, Colin Bird opened the event by emphasizing the enduring partnership between the two countries.

“Through the Fall Forum, we showcased the transformative power of regional collaboration, innovation, and real estate and infrastructure development that shapes our shared future,” said Larson. “Public- and private-sector leaders on both sides of the border have long recognized that the Detroit–Windsor region stands as a vital economic and cultural crossroad.”

Key Announcements:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a $40 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the City of Detroit, and Michigan Central to begin planning a multimodal transportation hub. The hub will be located within the 30-acre Michigan Central Innovation District and will feature new passenger rail and intercity bus transit station.

“Downtown Detroit is open for business and on the move as one of the best places to live, work, and pioneer cutting-edge ideas,” Whitmer said. “This MOU lays the foundation for a new transportation hub that will grow our regional economy, make downtown Detroit more vibrant, and connect residents and visitors to our communities. It builds on a historic investment in transit that I signed in my seventh balanced, bipartisan budget. Let’s keep getting it done.”

In a second major announcement, Arun Rao, Amtrak’s senior director of network development (central region) revealed it will extend its Wolverine Service to Windsor, Ontario, offering one to two daily trains from Detroit. The new cross-border route will seamlessly connect to VIA Rail Canada trains to London and Toronto via the CPKC tunnel, linking major economic centers: Chicago, Detroit, Windsor, and Toronto.

The extension increases cross-border capacity without straining existing land crossings.

“As Detroit’s innovation ecosystem grows at an unprecedented rate, our transit infrastructure must evolve alongside it, by linking entrepreneurs and companies to emerging innovation zones and the opportunities they unlock” said Josh Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central and DDP Board Member. “This is just another step in positioning Michigan Central as the hub that not only connects people to possibility but drives regional growth.”

DDP’s Chief Public Spaces Officer David Cowan shared that the 5th International Placemaking Week, a global gathering led by Projects for Public Spaces, will be held in Downtown Detroit in June 2026 and hosted by the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

Andy Doctoroff, Senior Vice President of Program Management of WSP, highlighted the partnerships and patience that are at the foundation of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. He was followed by Charl van Niekerk, CEO of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority; along with Rao and Sirefman as featured speakers in the “Presenters in the Fast Lane,” section of the program. van Niekerk shared highlights about the anticipated Gordie Howe International Bridge.

“The energy at the Downtown Detroit Partnership Fall Forum perfectly underscores the power of binational collaboration,” said Charl van Niekerk, Chief Executive Officer, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “The Gordie Howe International Bridge is far more than an infrastructure project – it is a catalyst for a new era of regional prosperity. By securing this critical trade corridor, we are jointly laying the foundation for lasting economic growth and a shared, stronger future for both Detroit and Windsor.”

Cross-Border Impact and Regional Vision:

Consul General Bird underscored the strategic value of the Detroit–Windsor connection, emphasizing that two countries with shared values can come together to outcompete the world. These cities have been building together for over 100 years, and we’re building systems that benefit both cultures and economies.

Mary Culler, President of Ford Philanthropy and Chair of Michigan Central and DDP Board, Executive Committee Member moderated an engaging panel discussion titled, “Cross-Border Catalysts: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future.”

Panelists included Steven Kalkanis, M.D., Executive Vice President of Henry Ford Health, CEO of Henry Ford Hospital, and CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group; Yvonne Pilon, CEO of WEtech Alliance; and Britany Affolter-Caine, Ph.D., Executive Director of Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M). Each speaker highlighted the importance of binational collaboration in advancing innovation, research, and regional prosperity. They also emphasized how their complementary industries are driving innovation that depends on strong binational relationships, and how their sectors are growing and creating even more opportunities for future cross-border collaboration.

The forum featured remarks from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. Both mayors shared testimonials about how the bordering cities rely on the exchange of employees and resources, giving this binational region a unique competitive advantage in business attraction.

The Innovation Showcase, curated by Michigan Central and the RIVER Collaborative, featured Detroit and Windsor startups that spotlight advancements in clean energy, mobility, digital health, AI, and manufacturing.

“The Innovation Showcase celebrates the extraordinary creativity and technical depth of the Detroit–Windsor corridor,” said Brittany Foley, RIVER Collaborative Co-Chair and Senior Trade Officer at the Canadian Consulate. “These companies exemplify the binational innovation that drives our region forward.”