Island Cooridor Foundation hoping for federal funding for E & N
The Island Cooridor Foundation is hoping to encourage the federal government to provide funding for the E & N rail line, and is encouraging Vancouver Island residents to write letters to the government asking for financial support for the railway.
Graham Bruce with the Island Cooridor Foundation says they are in the final phases of convincing the federal government to invest in the island rail infrastructure application.
“this is a matching dollar, $7.5 million to the provincial committment made last spring in 2011, and we know that in the next several weeks the federal government will make a decision, we are hopeful it will be a positive one, but certainly if Vancouver Islanders were to write the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport it would go a long way to encouraging them to make it a positive answer”
The Island Cooridor Foundation says $15 million is needed to guarantee 10 years of operation as per the railroad rebuilding plan.
Bruce says they have been assured by North Island MP John Duncan that a decision will be made by mid to late March.
Bruce says there are links to the Prime Minister and Minister of Transport’s e-mail addresses on their website at www.islandrail.ca
Meanwhile, the WestShore Chamber of Commerce is adding their voice to the call for the 7.5 million in federal funding for the E & N rail line.
President Stephen Whipp says a functioning rail line would take approximately 1500 cars off the road “significantly reducing congestion and improving the safety of the Malahat and Highway 1 overall while reducing carbon emissions”
The Westshore Chamber of Commerce says their call for funding for the rail line comes after a 78 page report conducted by transportation professional and MBA student Scott Pass.
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