Capital Regional District directors are recommending a $1.2-million grant to repair E&N Rail line trestles and bridges be awarded even though the deadline to reach a deal to run passenger service on the line has expired.
CRD directors agreed last November to give the Island Corridor Foundation — the owner of the rail line — the grant for repairs to bridges and trestles “subject to successful negotiation of a new train service agreement with Via Rail by March 1, 2013.”
That March 1 deadline now has passed with no agreement.
Island Corridor Foundation executive director Graham Bruce said it’s just a matter of time until an agreement with Via Rail is reached.
“Everybody knew that we needed to put together a new train service agreement with Via Rail. We’re in the middle of negotiating that. It’s not ‘if’ there will be one, it’s what it will look like. So we’re in the midst of putting those pieces together,” Bruce said.
On Wednesday, members of the CRD finance committee recommended the board agree to raise taxes for half of the grant ($600,000) in 2013 and commit the funds to the foundation once an agreement is reached. The balance would be levied in the following year.
Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt, a committee member, said he’s confident a train service agreement will be negotiated and said it is important the foundation has the grant money to proceed with the work.
“If you have a house, that may not be fully occupied, you still repair the roof on it,” Isitt said.
“The real issue is long-term asset management and unless we’ve completely written off a vision of rail for this Island, I think it’s completely financially prudent to make these modest infrastructure investments.”
CRD directors were not alone last year in agreeing to grant money to help repair bridges on the rail line.
Isitt said getting service up and running on the E&N line is “a no-brainer.”
“It doesn’t mean we wouldn’t pursue new rail lines in the future but by far the most cost-effective means of restoring passenger rail transport is by using the E&N.
Last year, Bruce convinced politicians on five regional boards between Victoria, Courtenay and Port Alberni to contribute $3.2 million to cover the cost of the bridge and trestle restoration.
The $3.2 million was on top of a federal-provincial commitment of $15 million to cover the cost of upgrades to 225 kilometres of rail line from Victoria to Courtenay.
The Island Corridor Foundation maintained the $15 million worth of track and railbed repairs couldn’t be done without the $3.2 million in structural repairs to 48 bridges and trestles.
“The federal and provincial dollars were dependent on us being able to do the bridge and trestle work that needed to be done and to have a train services agreement with Via Rail. Everything clicks together,” Bruce said.
He said “substantive work” is likely to begin sometime in late October.
Bruce said most, if not all, the regional districts are now splitting the grant allocation over two budget years.
“Because of how the work will go we can do it over the two budget years and it’s easier for the regional governments for their funding allocation requisitions,” Bruce said.
Passenger service on the line was suspended in March 2011 due to poor track conditions.
