Rail Trail Could Cost Up To $7M

Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 02 September 2014 06:00
More plans are in the works to turn the former rail line between Vernon and Kelowna into a public trail. Local governments like the Regional District of North Okanagan, Coldstream, Lake Country and Kelowna are looking at making a bid for the right of way, which Canadian National says is worth 50 million dollars. Brad Clements from the Okanagan Rail Trail project says his group would raise money to develop the trail, if the purchase is made. "This would be a four metre wide trail that's paved for most of it, with ditches and culverts as we want to minimize the maintenance costs. So that effort with a 20% contingency is about 7 million dollars," says Clements. Clements says they hope to raise that through business and personal donations. "We've talked to some businesses, companies and individuals that would benefit from the trail, and when we say we may need to raise 7 million dollars, people don't even flinch," says Clements. Clements is pleased to see local governments talk about making an offer. "We're at almost 9,700 emails of support so people have sent us almost 10,000 emails saying that we should do this, so I think that's showed the governments that this is something people want to see." The governments have until early October to make a bid.