I would like to address the matter of restoring the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor, relative to Mr. David Slade’s presentation to the CVRD. The key to this issue is foresight and planning for the future. When we formed Island Corridor Foundation it was done to protect the corridor from disappearing and with a 50 year vision for the future to make the best possible use of the corridor.
Having this corridor for the exclusive use of walkers and bicyclists does not serve the majority of the Citizens of Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island actually has a larger population than three of Canada's provinces. In Canada only 16 per cent of the population use bicycles at least once a week. What about the other 84 per cent of the population?
We have a growing number of seniors who are reaching that point where driving is becoming less desirable but still have need to go to Victoria or Nanaimo for various reasons. A reasonable rail passenger service should be available for them. Also for many others who work in these communities, or tourists, or locals who wish to visit friends and family and not drive.
There are a couple or errors in his comments that must be clarified. There is a trail where the corridor is between Duncan and Lake Cowichan. The trail was created by the CVRD shortly after the railway corridor was transferred to the ICF. That being said I don’t believe it gets that much use more often by motorized vehicles such as dirt bikes, etc.
There is also the matter of what happens if the rail corridor was abandoned. You first must deal with the environmental issues which have a huge cost to remediate the corridor. In addition the First Nations folks would certainly lay claim to much of the corridor in spite of the fact that no more than 10km passes through their lands.
Mr. Slade talks about other abandoned rail corridors and how wonderful they are but fails to recognize that many, if not all, of these corridors were abandoned during the height of car mania before recognizing, like the rest of the world, that these rail operations are more efficient, more environmental friendly and more socially responsible. A great deal more people and freight can be moved by rail with a much lower environmental impact than cars or trucks.
The Coquihalla corridors and Okanagan corridors should have remained. We now see the Okanagan remaining rail corridor is being looked at like the island to bring back passenger rail services.
The world is an example of the value of passenger rail. Check out some of the many railway documentaries on TV. The PGE rail corridor that still exists, owned or leased by CN should have passenger services on it. To give examples of abandoned rail corridors as the way to go does not consider the value of rail services to the majority of citizens not the minority groups.
With a 50+ year vision imagine the rail going all the way to Port Hardy. What a marvellous situation that would be. That’s what vision looks like, plan for the future. In fact the corridor was surveyed to Campbell River and most if not all the corridor is still open and could be built on. Anything of value costs money. Future thinking is important not short-sightedness.
Too often our senior levels of government are reactionary not forward thinking. Build it before you have passed the point of need.
Our provincial government has thrown hundreds of millions of dollars at road projects which have solved nothing. The railway would have answered all of the issues easily. I would also point out that besides commuter services, you have intercity passenger services, multi tourist train operations and of course freight. Now is the time to do it not after the need becomes even more drastic.
May I offer Mr. Slade an opportunity to discuss this project face to face over a cup of coffee or tea? The Citizen has my number and this is my approval for them to give it to you to call me and arrange a get together. Let’s work together for the benefit of all.
Rails WITH Trails benefits everybody not just the few.
Jack Peake
Duncan
