Island Corridor Foundation

Railway Facts And A Professional Plan Are Important

glemon — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:26:10 +0000

By Graham Bruce

When Native and municipal leaders came together to protect and acquire the E&N Railway corridor they understood the complexity of the task at hand.

In forming the Island Corridor Foundation they created a structure that could accept the land transfer from CPR and work to achieve eight objectives one of which is ‘to contribute to safe and environmentally sound passenger and freight rail services along the Railroad’.

The ICF realized the necessity to have a capable short line rail operator to manage railroad operations. To their credit the ICF was able to engage Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY), one of the best short line operators in North America.

A subsidiary of SRY, Southern Rail of Vancouver Island (SVI) worked with ICF to develop an overall long term infrastructure plan that forecasted a $100 million cost for upgrades to the line.

Discussions with the provincial and federal governments lead to the BC ministry of transportation commissioning a study to review the necessary upgrades and the potential for passenger and freight growth.

The report concluded there was potential but that the ICF should take an incremental approach to infrastructure investment while improving rail service and building demand.

With the professional services of SVI, the ICF developed a $15 million infrastructure plan and improved VIA Rail passenger schedule as phase I of improving rail service and building demand. The plan was released in October 2010 and submitted to the federal and provincial governments.

$10,565,000 would replace approximately 104,000 ties and 974 switch ties; $2,364,000 for ballast, lift (average 2”), tamp, re-line, regulate and trim complete Victoria subdivision, and Wellcox spur; $920,000 for removal and replacement of full toe joint bars with good relay toeless style bars complete with new track bolts, nuts and heavy spring washers; $651,000 bridge re-decking and $500,000 for an engineering inspection and assessment of 48 railway bridges between Victoria and Courtenay.

In June of 2011 Premier Christie Clark announced the $7.5 million provincial contribution and the unconditional release of the $500,000 necessary to complete the bridge and trestle engineering audit.

The bridge and trestle engineering audit will be complete by mid February of 2012. The report will detail the current weight loading for each structure, what will be required to bring each structure to a freight weight rating and, maintenance and capital necessary over 10, 20 and 30 years to maintain the structures.

The phase I plan for passenger service improvements released in October 2010 and presented to VIA Rail described the home terminus to be moved to Nanaimo. This would allow for an early morning southbound train to Victoria before the 8am run to Courtenay, returning in the afternoon to Victoria with a late afternoon train back to Nanaimo.

Ridership on the Malahat VIA train had experience a 10% growth over the last three years of operation despite the general public opinion that it was operating in the wrong direction.

VIA Rail is considering the new schedule and the additional gross operating cost of approximately $500,000. Increased passenger revenues are expected to cover the additional operation cost.

VIA Rail has committed a new three car train that includes a baggage car with the capacity to carry bicycles and a small refreshment galley.

This new train could be available in late spring if the federal government approves the $7.5 million funding application soon.

Barring any unforeseen ‘red flags’ in the bridge and trestle report a concerted effort will be undertaken for a timely federal funding decision.

Over the past several years the ICF Board of Directors has worked hard to meet the varied objectives of the Foundation and to evolve into an efficiently run organization while managing competing demands and interests.

For more information about the ICF, phase II plans and freight opportunities, the new Nanaimo Station, trail building plans along the corridor and to sign up as a ‘Friend of the Corridor’ Islanders can go to www.islandrail.ca .

Graham Bruce is the Chief Operating Officer of the Island Corridor Foundation and a former Minister of Municipal Affairs 1991 and Minister of Labour 2001

Removal of VIA Dayliners concerns View Royal Mayor

glemon — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:06:15 +0000

Times Colonist – November 7, 2011

NANAIMO — View Royal Mayor Graham Hill is among those concerned about the future of rail on Vancouver Island, after Via Rail’s Dayliners left Nanaimo on a barge headed for Eastern Canada Saturday.

“I am a bit concerned about the signal that this sends,” Hill said during the weekend after travelling to Nanaimo to witness the removal of the two passenger cars.

However, he’s also hopeful about the return of a better service with much-improved Dayliners next year.

When Via suspended its operations between Courtenay and Victoria in March due to poor track conditions, Graham Bruce, the executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation, began pressing governments for the funds to restore the railway.

Via will not return with passenger service until track maintenance is completed, but so far, only the provincial government has offered funding for the project, Bruce said. Now the foundation is waiting to hear whether the federal government will match the $7.5 million the province is willing to put up.

“There’s been good discussions going with offices back east in Ottawa,” Bruce said. “Most of it’s all done through the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities. So we’re pretty optimistic, but we haven’t got that word [from Ottawa] yet. We need that word.”

Removing the Dayliners from the Island sends the wrong message, said Hill, who is also director of the foundation.

“I am a bit concerned about the signal that this sends — taking the cars off the Island before that $7.5 million is in place. I think we’ve got a communications problem,” Hill said.

“This is not the time to pull the last spike out of Vancouver Island. It was the railways that built Canada. It is the railways that will keep us going.”

While Via has given only oral assurance of its intention to return service to Vancouver Island, the Nanaimo Train Station Partnership reports on their website that the independent federal Crown corporation has committed $869,000 to complete the renovation of the E&N train station in Nanaimo.

Andre Sullivan, former president of Young Professionals of Nanaimo — which helped raise $420,000 for the train station during his tenure — said rail service needs to be seriously considered, if only to provide a means to travel between Victoria and communities to the north that avoids the Malahat highway.

“When you see the [latest] accident on the Malahat [the Oct. 29 collision in which motorcyclist Colin Grant, 54, was killed and traffic was backed up for hours], it becomes so obvious that we need a secondary link,” Sullivan said.

He added that it would be in the taxpayers’ best interest to take the “$7.5-million, easy route out” and fix the railway instead of spending $1 billion on a major refurbishing of the Malahat highway.

Hill said there is a demand for updated Dayliners, and hopes to see the introduction of passenger cars that would be “living rooms on wheels.”

“If you’re travelling from here to Victoria for business, and you have Wi-Fi and coffee and you’re relaxed in that space, you have a very different mindset of travelling and connecting communities than if you are sitting around and driving, and pounding and pouring carbon out of the back of the car,” Hill said.

If the full $15 million materializes, the Island Corridor Foundation would be able to replace 104,000 decaying railway ties between Courtenay and Victoria.

That translates to one in three of the existing ties, Bruce explained.

With many engineering assessments already completed, the foundation now has a better idea of the corridor’s potential. That itself is a step toward bringing a new set of Via Dayliners to Vancouver Island, Bruce said.

“It’s a real improvement. They’re going to be first-class. They’re hopeful that we’ll be ready by mid-spring. And we’re hoping that if we get everything together, then we’ll be ready for when the Nanaimo train station will open.”

If all goes well, Hill’s “living rooms on wheels” could become a reality next year.

Spokesmen for Via Rail could not be reached for comment.

— Nanaimo Daily News

ckoehn@nanaimodailynews.com

Inspecting the trestles

glemon — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 02:19:23 +0000

The bridge and trestle inspection team has begun its assessment of the 48

structures along the Island railroad. The field work will be completed by

December of 2011. The Island Corridor Foundation had requested this review

be undertaken before work began on the $15 million rail infrastructure.

The B.C. government has approved a $7.5 million contribution and the ICF is

awaiting word from the federal government for a matching amount.

The $500,000 inspection will report on the state of repair, the life of each

structure and the weight loading.

Commuter Rail Study Unfinished Work

glemon — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:53:19 +0000

Pilot project the only way to gauge support for up-Island train service

BY GRAHAM BRUCE, TIMES COLONIST

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

A recent report about commuter rail service between the Cowichan Valley, the Western Communities and Victoria is an unfinished study.

The limited study into establishing a pilot commuter service between Cowichan, Langford and Victoria was initiated by the Island Corridor Foundation with B.C. Transit. Due to a freedom-of-information request, the report was released unfinished without comment by the foundation.

The report is primarily a collection of baseline details that will be used for a more rigorous assessment in due course.

The foundation’s focus is to sustain and improve freight and passenger rail service for Vancouver Island. To that end, a $15-million rail infrastructure application was put before the federal and provincial governments in October 2010.

The province approved a $7.5-million contribution last June. The federal government is still considering the request.

The investment will replace 104,000 ties between Victoria and Courtenay. The improvements will allow for a new VIA passenger service with new passenger cars and an improved schedule, originating in the early morning southbound from Nanaimo and then travelling to Courtenay and returning to Victoria with a final late-afternoon run back to Nanaimo.

The foundation is hopeful the new service will be operating by spring 2012.

However, the purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a pilot passenger commuter service for the Western Communities that might help alleviate traffic congestion.

The foundation needs to review the data collected and test some of the assumptions in the report.

Ridership assumptions and forecasts are difficult to prove, thus the initial idea of a pilot project.

Certainly with the resumption of passenger service and an early morning southbound train into Victoria, there may well be an indication of the ridership interest.

This, however, will not truly reflect ridership potential between the Western Communities and Victoria.

The type of rail cars that could be used is also critical in the assessment of undertaking a pilot project. Using a three-car bi-level model, the train could move about 800 people per trip. The initial concept called for carrying 125 people per trip.

Since most private vehicles on the roads appear to carry only one person, being able to remove 500 or more of them during the peak afternoon and evening rush hours between Goldstream and Victoria might have a significant impact on travel time.

This, of course, is only conjecture – thus the need for a more detailed assessment.

Any solution to the transit issues of the Capital Regional District will be costly, as the $950-million light rail transit plan indicates.

The concept of the pilot project is not to be an alternative to the light rail plan, but rather an opportunity to complement existing transportation systems at a fraction of the cost and offer timely congestion relief.

While the foundation appreciates the public discussion about rail line opportunities, one shouldn’t be in a hurry to write off what this publicly owned transportation corridor might offer, certainly not from an incomplete report.

In co-operation with the Ministry of Transportation, we have started the assessment of 48 trestles and bridges between Victoria and Courtenay. This will provide information on the state of repair, life expectancy and weight loading for each structure.

When this work is complete and federal funding is confirmed, we will replace the 104,000 ties and resume passenger service. We will also look at moving aggregate from the north Island to the CRD by train, and at the possibilities of hauling dangerous goods over the Malahat by rail.

Residents who feel strongly about maintaining an operating railroad on the Island should write to federal Transport Minister Denis Lebel and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, encouraging them to approve the $7.5 million needed to sustain rail.

The south Island commuter pilot project is incremental to providing an operating railroad for all residents of Vancouver Island. Further unbiased analysis and a finished report will determine whether there is merit in this concept.

Graham Bruce is the executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation. He has also served as minister of labour and minister of municipal affairs.

B.C. government pledges funds to E&N Rail line

glemon — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:55:10 +0000

Times Colonist, June 28, 2011

By Bill Cleverly

Premier Christy Clark pledged Tuesday to help get the E&N Rail line back on track by announcing $7.5 million in provincial funding toward track improvements.
But the money is conditional. An inspection of bridges along the line must be completed and the federal government must give similar funding.
“I am delighted to announce that the province will provide $7.5 million in funding to the Island Corridor Foundation,” Clark told a gathering of Vancouver Island mayors and other elected officials in Nanaimo.
“Now $500,000 of that will allow the foundation to complete an engineering inspection of approximately 40 rail bridges along the way. The remaining $7 million is conditional on the foundation getting matching funding of $7.5 million from its partners and demonstrating that the rail link is indeed safe.”
View Royal Mayor Graham Hill and Oak Bay Mayor Christopher Causton were among capital region officials at the announcement.
Both were optimistic a similar announcement will come soon from the federal government.
“I’m feeling pretty good about it,” Causton said. “I don’t think the premier would have gone ahead with the announcement without some knowledge that they were going to be backed,” he said.
“We are hopeful that will be happening shortly,” said Graham.
Island communities, which own the track through the Island Corridor Foundation, have been lobbying hard for $15 million from the federal and provincial governments to fix badly damaged rail ties. The ties must be repaired before passenger trains can run on the track again. Passenger service was suspended in April because of safety concerns sparked by poor track conditions.
The 130-year-old track, which runs 225 kilometres from Victoria to Courtenay, is seen by some as a key transportation corridor and the possible site of a commuter rail service in Greater Victoria.
Graham Bruce, Island Corridor Foundation executive director, said if the federal contribution is announced soon, passenger service could resume by mid-October.
Island Conservative MPs James Lunney and John Duncan have been attempting to secure federal funding.
Clark has said she discussed the issue with Duncan, the federal aboriginal affairs minister, and expects Ottawa to be at the table.
Lunney was at the Nanaimo gathering and nodding positively when references to federal funding were made.
Bruce said the $15 million is needed to make improvements to the rail line. Other initiatives such as running a peak-hour pilot commuter service between Cowichan and Victoria, and Victoria and Langford will require their own funding plans, he said.
“Just like any transit system there’s got to be funding players in all of that,” Bruce said. “There may be and quite likely will be other involvement by federal and provincial governments depending on what it is that we are looking to achieve.”
With its funding, Clark said, the province expects the corridor foundation to get people using the train.
“They will also find ways to ensure that they are maximizing the number of passengers and the amount of cargo that goes along the line because in the long run for this railway to work people need to use it,” she said.
Mary Ashley, co-chair of the foundation, called the announcement “the most important moment in the history of the railway in the last 150 years.”
Tourism Victoria executive director Rob Gialloreto said he doesn’t have hard numbers, but he’s sure the lack of a passenger service has affected tourism on the Island.
“Logic would dictate it would (have an impact),” said Gialloreto. “Especially in the last two years of recessionary times, before the dollar got to where it is now, we had a reliance on domestic and, indeed, provincial tourism traffic to Victoria.
“So any link that isn’t there, linking us up to Courtenay and up-Island, would have been detrimental for us.”
bcleverley@timescolonist.com

Premier Christy Clark arrives at the Nanaimo Station.

ICF co-chair Mary Ashley welcomes the provincial government announcement. She is joined by ICF directors Graham Hill and Joe Stanhope and MLA Ron Cantelon, Premiere Christy Clark, MLA Ida Chong and MLA Don McRae.

ICF co-chair Judith Sayers addresses guests at the Nanaimo Station.

: The Premier with ICF co-chair Mary Ashley and MLAs Ida Chong, Don McRae and Ron Cantelon.

VIA Passenger Train to Nanaimo – A New Beginning or the End of Rail?

glemon — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:17:24 +0000

Andre Sullivan of the Young Professionals of Nanaimo speaks of the campaign to restore the Nanaimo Station. The Young Professionals raised $450,000 to rebuild the station that was razed by fire in 2007.

Via Rail has promised three refurbished cars when service restarts. Graham Bruce, executive director of the Island Corridor Foundation explains plans for rail service to guests at Nanaimo relocation ceremony.

May 9^th 2011

Media Advisory

On the 125^th year of the historic E&N Railway, VIA Rail will relocate its train to Nanaimo on Tuesday May 10^th. Will this be the last time the passenger train makes it way from Victoria or is this just the beginning of a new and improved service?

The train will leave the Roundhouse at VIC West at 10am May 10^th without passengers and arrive at the Nanaimo Station at approximately 1:30pm. The general public is invited to take part in a welcoming ceremony.

The passenger service is currently suspended while the Island Corridor Foundation awaits the federal and provincial government’s decision on a $15 million infrastructure application.

The ICF has petitioned VIA Rail to turn around the service so it departs Nanaimo early in the morning for Victoria and then make its daily journey to Courtenay. Although this is a small adjustment it is anticipated it would be enthusiastically supported by riders wanting to travel to Victoria and still get back home the same day.

Overall ridership has increased 30% during the past four years.

VIA Rail has promised three newly refurbished cars when the service restarts.

The new train consist will be two rail diesel cars and a bicycle baggage car. This will be a tremendous improvement for the Island passenger service. Also on board will be a small refreshment galley.

But the renaissance of Island passenger service is in jeopardy without the federal and provincial government’s approval of the infrastructure application.

The old VIA train will be relocated to the Nanaimo rail yard because of better security. It will arrive at the Nanaimo Station at approximately 1:30pm for a welcoming ceremony marking the recommencement of the new station construction. VIA Rail has contributed nearly $900K for the reconstruction of the Heritage Station and work on the station is scheduled to begin again by late May.

The ICF is anticipating an answer about the infrastructure funding by mid June.

People should be aware freight train service is still in operation and walking on the track is very dangerous.

Minister Promises Island Rail Answer

glemon — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:19:50 +0000

AVICC Press Release

Tuesday May 3, 2011

The decision of whether rail will continue to exist on Vancouver Island is a step closer with the BC Minister of Transportation Blair Lekstrom telling Island mayors he will get an answer to the Island Corridor Foundation $15 million rail infrastructure request submitted to the federal and provincial governments last October.

“The minister told us this would require a treasury board submission for the $7.5 million provincial contribution”, said Association of Vancouver Island & Coastal Communities president, Joe Stanhope, “and he would get us a quick reply”.

Island mayors and representatives of the ICF met with Minister Lekstrom and Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon to discuss the VIA Rail passenger service shutdown and the need for the infrastructure funding to secure the future of rail on Vancouver Island.

Mayors from Courtenay – Greg Phelps, Port Alberni- Ken McRae, Duncan – Phil Kent, Langford – Stewart Young and View Royal- Graham Hill, joined Stanhope, who is also the chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo and ICF co chairs Judith Sayers and Mary Ashley in pressing the need for immediate action to get the rail service operational again. MLA’s Ida Chong, Murray Coell and Don McRae were also represented.

Stanhope said the minister had several questions with respect to future rail infrastructure requests and the possibility of a contribution by the Island Coastal Economic Trust.

“We said there would be a formal letter going to ICTE requesting an assisting contribution,” added Stanhope.

The minister was also asked to coordinate a response from Canada when the new federal minister of transportation was appointed.

Stanhope stated he was very pleased with the hour long passionate discussion and the keen interest expressed by the minister.

Southern Rail of Vancouver Island continues to operate rail freight trains on the rail road.

Media contact:
Graham Bruce
250 246 4320
250 210 0411

Island Mayors Request Meeting with Premier

glemon — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:08:14 +0000

AVICC Press Release

Monday April 11, 2011

Island Mayors want a meeting with Premier Christie Clark and Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom to discuss the loss of the VIA passenger service and the potential shutdown of railroad transportation on Vancouver Island.

An emergency resolution was unanimously passed Sunday at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities annual convention at Sydney in the wake of last week’s shutdown of the passenger service.

AVICC president, Joe Stanhope said the $15 million rail infrastructure application submitted last October to the federal and provincial governments is absolutely critical to maintaining railroad service on Vancouver Island.

“All the communities attending the conference are solid in their support of this funding request. This rail corridor was returned to the people of Vancouver Island in 2006 due to the past leadership of several Mayors and First Nation Chiefs through a creative tax grant land transfer with CPR for a dollar”.

“Now as part of the plan the municipalities along the corridor provide approximately $460,000 annually in permissive property tax exemptions to the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) which is important to the long term operating agreement the ICF and Southern Rail of Vancouver Island have tentatively agreed to”, he said.

Approximately $30 million in trail development and rail improvements have occurred in the past four years.

The ICF is the Society that holds and manages the corridor trails and railroad for the five regional districts, 14 municipalities and 13 First Nations.

Stanhope stated the ICF has had numerous promising discussions with both governments regarding the infrastructure funding but due to a provincial leadership contest and now a federal election a decision has not been made.

“Because of the passenger service shutdown last week the AVICC and the ICF are asking for a meeting with Premier Clark and Minister Lekstrom to discuss the situation and for their assistance in coordinating a positive response from both governments”, added Stanhope.

“The ICF executive director presented a very comprehensive report on Saturday about operational developments and we want to ensure the premier and minister are aware of the self sustaining business plan the ICF has been building”, Stanhope said.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Graham Bruce

ICF Executive Director

250 246 4320

250 210 0411 (cell)

Joe Stanhope

AVICC President

Chair Regional District of Nanaimo

250 248 6401

250 668 2814 (cell)

Will Rail Survive on Vancouver Island?

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:31:50 +0000

By Graham Bruce

On the 125^th anniversary of rail operating on Vancouver Island it will be decided whether rail will continue to operate or be shut down.

In October of 2010 the owners of the railway corridor, the Island Corridor Foundation, (ICF), a Foundation of regional districts & First Nations, presented the federal and provincial governments with a $15 million infrastructure investment request to secure the future of Island rail.

As things stand today without a commitment for the $15 million investment by late spring of 2011, ICF will have to develop a plan for an orderly shutdown of rail service.

What does the $15million investment give us? It will replace over 100,000 ties, track re-ballasting and provide $500,000 for a comprehensive bridge and trestle assessment. It maintains 26 rail crew jobs and provides construction and enhanced operational employment.

Not only does this secure the future of rail on the Island it allows for an enhanced VIA passenger service with an early morning southbound train from Nanaimo to Victoria. VIA Rail has committed that three newly refurbished cars will be operating on this line by March of 2012.

These new passenger cars will have bicycle carrying capacity, handicap lifts and a small refreshment galley.

It would also make it possible for a pilot intercity passenger service to be considered between Cowichan and Victoria. A business case is currently being developed by the ICF and BC Transit with cooperation of the Capital Regional District, Langford, View Royal, Esquimalt and Victoria.

Equally important it reinforces the efforts of our rail operator, Southern Rail of Vancouver Island, (SVI), to attract new freight customers to make this a profitable rail operation and provide ongoing maintenance revenues.

One of the contractual obligations SVI has with ICF is to maintain the track at the current or improved grade level. SVI currently spends approximately $1 million annually.

SVI through its sister companies has also recently completed a new rail barge terminal at Annacis Island to improve rail barge service between Nanaimo and the mainland.

Because of the vision and leadership of several Chiefs, Mayors and interested parties this railroad was returned to the people of Vancouver Island in the early 2000’s.

Prior to the corridor being transferred to the ICF the railway had been allowed to deteriorate with the natural result of slower passenger service and less freight being shipped by rail.

In spite of this, rail service improvements have continued to be made and ridership has increased. A new train station at Nanaimo is under construction, a new four mile bridge is in operation and numerous rail crossings including the $5 million crossing at Admirals Road have been completed.

It is ironic that with the substantial railroad improvements and service enhancement opportunities we are in danger of losing a viable transportation option for the people of Vancouver Island.

The debate is not rail versus car or bus, the discussion needs to be about better utilization of existing transportation alternatives. It needs to be broader then our momentary current view. It needs to recognize the end of cheap oil and the reality of higher gas prices. It needs to include the costs of additional land for road right of ways that will be needed and how that simply encourages more of us to continue to drive one person per car.

A $15million investment in Island Rail to secure the continuation of rail service could very well be one of the most cost effective and important socio economic decisions we can make for the future of Vancouver Island.

If you agree, let your MP and MLA know, write the federal and provincial ministers of transportation, email the Prime Minister and Premier, call your Mayor and regional district chair and talk to your Chief and council. Ask your favorite Island federal candidate to publicly support the $15 million infrastructure investment.

If you agree but do nothing, then that is clearly a decision to end rail on Vancouver Island. Your action will make a difference.

Graham Bruce is the Executive Director of the Island Corridor Foundation and a former Minister of Municipal Affairs 1991 and Minister of Labour 2001.

Victoria commuters pin hopes on rail plan

glemon — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 20:20:48 +0000

Globe and Mail – Published Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 8:04PM EST

BRENNAN CLARKE

As a long-time veteran of the Colwood Crawl, Don Swagar expects a certain amount of rush-hour congestion during the morning commute from his home in the Western Communities to his job in downtown Victoria.

But this fall, the gridlock on the Trans-Canada Highway outside the provincial capital has been far worse than anything he’s experienced in almost 20 years of making the trip.

“There’s been a lot more traffic in the last year and a half, and since the beginning of September, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “A drive that used to take me 35 minutes now takes about an hour. It’s my new reality.”

The trigger for the recent spike in volume on the main highway is a $7.4-million road-improvement project along the Old Island Highway in nearby View Royal that has caused major delays on the highway, which thousands of commuters use as an alternate route every day.

But View Royal Mayor Graham Hill said the project, to be completed this spring, will do little to address the causes of the Victoria’s growing traffic woes – population growth, an over-reliance on the automobile and the absence of a rapid-transit system.

“I would say what we’ve got right now is just a foretaste of things to come,” Mr. Hill said. “The daily traffic now is so intense that if there’s one incident, a crash or a tie-up, it backs right up. We have to find a way to get people out of their cars.”

Mr. Hill’s tiny suburban municipality, which has grown to 9,500 people from 5,500 in just seven years, straddles both the Trans-Canada Highway and the E&N Railway, a little-used transportation corridor that’s widely regarded as ideal for a commuter rail service.

Peak traffic flow on the Trans Canada in View Royal has increased to 1,600 vehicles per hour from 1,400 over the past three years, he said.

However, Via Rail’s daily train service on the E&N travels in the opposite direction to rush-hour traffic, leaving Victoria for Courtenay early in the morning and travelling back to the city in the evening.

This fall, the Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the E&N tracks, proposed to move the railway’s terminus to Nanaimo and launch an early-morning service geared toward Victoria commuters.

Mr. Hill, a long-time ICF board member, said Via has agreed to provide three refurbished rail cars providing the ICF can come up with an estimated $15-million to refurbish the deteriorating tracks.

“Commuter rail is a vital part of the response that we need to take to the transportation issues affecting our region,” he said. “We’re hopeful that both levels of government will respond.”

However, studies by the provincial Transportation Ministry have concluded that the region lacks the critical mass of population required to support rapid-transit links to downtown.

BC Transit is in the midst of a prolonged study of future transit options for Victoria, including light rail, but that process isn’t slated to wrap up until the end of next year.

Sue Wood, who commutes 35 kilometres from Shawnigan Lake, a trip that now takes about 75 minutes, said it makes no sense to have the rail line sitting idle when the surrounding roads are so congested.

“We need some kind of rapid transit coming in from Langford and Colwood to take some traffic off the highway,” she said. “It’s getting to be as bad as Vancouver.”

In recent weeks, the line of slow-moving cars has extended through Goldstream Park and up the Malahat to the South Shawnigan Lake turnoff as early as 6:30 a.m., Ms. Wood said.

Many commuters believe construction of a long-awaited overpass at the intersection of McKenzie Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway would help solve the problem.

However, that project was passed over last year in favour of a $24-million interchange on Saanich Peninsula near Victoria airport, in the heart of Tory cabinet minister Gary Lunn’s riding.

Mr. Swagar is convinced politics played a role in the decision.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “They didn’t need an overpass at the airport, I’ve never waited more than one light at that intersection.”

Special to The Globe and Mail