SARAH SIMPSON / THE CITIZEN
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
Whether progress is clear or not, the Island Corridor Foundation is making strides in the development of what’s become known as Vancouver Island’s backbone.
On Wednesday evening, Mary Ashley, Island Corridor Foundation board co-chair, briefed the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s board of directors on the group’s work, which includes many other initiatives other than the restoration of passenger service.
“Things are not standing still in spite of the time it’s taking us to get some VIA rail support to get the train up and running again,” Ashley told the board. “The corridor is becoming a vital part of all of our communities up and down the right of way.”
From the renovation and reconstruction of key train stations to the continued work on an Island long trail network, “The corridor is capable of much more than just having the railway,” Ashley said.
She congratulated the CVRD for their work in trail development and said similar work is being done by all five of the regional districts the corridor passes through.
“For the trails that are now in existence, the feedback that we get from the use of those trails is nothing but positive. I really appreciate the initiative you’ve taken in encouraging this and promoting this,” she said. “Our dream of course is that our trails will all connect through all five regional districts and possibly further to the North Island in future, even if we can only take rail as far as Courtenay, that doesn’t mean the trails have to stop.”
“Things are not standing still in spite of the time it’s taking us to get some VIA rail support to get the train up and running again,” Ashley told the board. “The corridor is becoming a vital part of all of our communities up and down the right of way.”
From the renovation and reconstruction of key train stations to the continued work on an Island long trail network, “The corridor is capable of much more than just having the railway,” Ashley said.
She congratulated the CVRD for their work in trail development and said similar work is being done by all five of the regional districts the corridor passes through.
“For the trails that are now in existence, the feedback that we get from the use of those trails is nothing but positive. I really appreciate the initiative you’ve taken in encouraging this and promoting this,” she said. “Our dream of course is that our trails will all connect through all five regional districts and possibly further to the North Island in future, even if we can only take rail as far as Courtenay, that doesn’t mean the trails have to stop.”
