PELASE SIGN THE OFFICIAL PETITION

 Sooke District is joining several Island communities urging the federal and provincial governments to commit money and resources to the Island Rail Corridor.

The move comes at the request of View Royal council, which will take the issue to the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual convention in the fall.

  Being called a “once-in-a-lifetime” affordable housing deal, a developer has revealed his latest pitch for the land surrounding the historic E&N Roundhouse in Esquimalt. 

"Focus Equities, the company that owns Bayview Place, also said the proposal would also include routes for cycling and waling, a major bus stop, and the plans are in the works to preserve the rails for E&N transit in the future." 

 Plans change for property on Third Street in Nanaimo, 171 apartments now proposed

Coincidences do happen, but sometimes they are the result of S.M.A.R.T decision making!

"The City of Nanaimo got a look at new development plans for a property on Third Street. Ironclad Developments submitted a development permit application to build two apartment buildings at 525 Third St., and the city’s design advisory panel, at a meeting Thursday, July 28, recommended the application proceed"

  https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/plans-change-for-property-on-third-street-in-nanaimo-171-apartments-now-proposed 

Victoria housing; fossil fuels and the green movement; rail vs. trail

The huge personal fortunes that they are amassing now will be of little use to them when the Earth has basically self-destructed. What are they thinking?

Gwen Isaacs

Maintaining the E&N rail corridor may appear to be a significant expense now, but it will one day be seen as a smart investment. 

Paul Walton 

Savoie has stated: “Most also agree that this continuous corridor is a valuable asset which should be protected.”

I can think of no better avenue to such protection than to restore rail service.

by Norman Wale

 The “Colwood crawl,” the “Westshore shuffle,” and the “Langford lollygag” are not-so-affectionate names for the morale-breakingly slow traffic that squeezes through a bottleneck on the Trans-Canada Highway and the Island Highway between Victoria and the Westshore twice a day.  

The article mistakenly says there is no Colwood  Access (there is by Integra Tire), but it presents several options including a gondola!

What no rollercoaster?

   How passenger rail is integral to our environmental goals and can help fight climate change

did you know...

Amtrak Cascades has connected the Vancouver-Seattle-Portland corridor since 1995!

The Heatwaves discussed in this NASA Earth Observatory article are on the other side of the planet from us, but we all live on the same sphere, and we are definitely feeling the pain!

We need to do things NOW that lower emissions!

  CRD VOTES TO KEEP THE CORRIDOR! 

 Ahead of a March deadline to have a working plan in place for the return of rail services on Vancouver Island, the Capital Regional District is calling for collaboration between provincial and federal governments, and stakeholders, to preserve the rail corridor connecting Victoria with Courtenay. 

Strike averted at Via Rail after tentative agreement reached with union

Do you smell the pieces of this puzzle snapping into place like I do?

 Congratulation's to all the Territorial, Indigenous, and Provincial leaders who sat down on Lekwungen territory and had an open dialog about reconciliation! 

 The Surrey Langley SkyTrain project

 will extend the Expo Line 16 kilometres on an elevated guideway for $3.95 billion

Our line costs

 918 times less than that!!

The Times Colonist released an article by the former MP for Victoria,

Denise Savoie, a director of 

Friends of Rails to Trails.

In my opinion Denise fails to recognize the needs of our Elderly, Disabled, Disadvantaged, and Low-income earners in this article, and only appears to stand for people in good enough shape to utilize a 289km trail by hiking, cycling, or walking. 

Should we be purposing this already graded, already bridged (trestles), and already tunneled corridor

 that stretches from Courtenay to Victoria primarily as a

tourist attraction?

or should we use it to help our vulnerable live a better life, and a tourist attraction! 

No ridership?

 In 2019, 147,600 people in B.C. were paid minimum wage. 

Since 2011, the island has grown by 140,000 people and the nearly exponential rise in the https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/price-indexes/cpi is squeezing people to live in campers and cars, and often skipping on rent to just to put food in their bellies. These are tax-payers too! They are losing faith in government because they aren’t getting any real relief from them.

In another article this “former MP” name drops John Cleese, the famous Monty Python actor for his “That Parrot is dead” skit, but I’m not sure John Cleese would be happy with his name being used in what appears to be an elitist agenda. https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comment-stop-dreaming-about-returning-trains-to-en-corridor-4689027?fbclid=IwAR1dVDZY86lkHcVz9FR3G2wyMgfBdOjfbDU2h8NZjwRSqZ7JtPmvJBypBIQ 

The ICF disputed all of this in their response with solid counter-arguments. 

This latest comment piece is simply more of the same coming from FORTVI, but this time it feels a lot more like panic as the reality of an efficient rail system is looks more and more likely.   But

Why Panic when we can do both!

To me, after looking everything over and documenting it on https://restoreislandrail.com, and addressing the the misleading posts from members of Rails to Trails Vancouver Island,

 these types of articles are of special interest and not for Vancouver Islanders at all.

Perhaps it is a good thing that Denise Savoie is a Former MP and not an active one. 

 I personally agree with all the Mayors who signed the Train photo, the Island Corridor Foundations plan (and even more), the VITCC, the CRD who recently approved it, and our 

Premier John Horgan

 who saw the value of it from the get go! 

 Nanaimo intersection worst on the Island for car crashes 

Do you feel safe on the road?

The Nanaimo intersections with the most crashes in 2021

74 crashes - Old Island Highway, Aulds Road and Hammond Bay Road

56 Crashes - Old Island Highway, Bowen Road and Norwell Drive

47 Crashes - Nanaimo Parkway at Aulds Road – 54Nanaimo Parkway at Jingle Pot Road (south) 

46 Crashes Old Island Highway at Enterprise Way – 46

Travel interruptions, employees late for work, shipping deadlines missed!

Victoria and many other Vancouver Island cities like Nanaimo and Saanich, are getting a lot of press for being a destination of choice! For rapid growth rates, for the diverse cultural and scenic experiences we have, for the attractions.   

When they visit, could we spread prosperity up and down the island as they arrive by Plane or Ferry?  

LETTER: Rail is the right choice for Vancouver Island

Deadline looms to restore or abandon Island passenger rail

In 2018, Minister Claire Trevena said “It’s not going to be cheap no matter what we come with,”

“We have a commitment to make sure that people across the island can travel. 

Hauling freight trains with electric locomotives is now starting to happen

CFAX News speaks with Jack Peake, a member of the VITCC and former chair of the Island Corridor Foundation, about why now is the time.

Dr. Scott James writes about the $431 Million dollar proposal made by the Island Corridor Foundation

CTV News talks to Aaron Sto

ne, Island Corridor Co-Chair about why the rail line is needed

Capital Regional District continues push to get trains moving again on Vancouver Island

Victoria-area mayors call on B.C. for south-island rail commitment in 2019 budget

New coalition rallies to revive Vancouver Island rail service! 

NORTHERNBEAT covers Vancouver Island rail service running out of time and why.

CRD mayors join to send letter to province urging for action regional rail

If they can see the value, shouldn't we all?