Vernon and Coldstream Join Rail Trail Planning

Vernon and Coldstream will have more contact with the team mapping out development of the Okanagan Rail Trail.

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has agreed to have staff reps from the city and District attend meetings of the inter-jurisdictional team that’s making decisions on the trail’s construction.

GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham says Kelowna, Lake and RDNO own the track, but Vernon and Coldstream are the next biggest players.

“The majority of the committee felt it important we have staff involved, just even in the discussions, because at this point in time, they haven’t really been included, other than the information relayed back to them,” says Cunningham.

There’s no shortage of decisions to be made concerning the Rail Trail which is expected to have all 48 kilometres of its basic trail completed sometime next year.

Cunningham says while each jurisdiction is completing its own section, the ongoing management of the trail has yet to be decided.

“Is is something that would be more effective if we have a contractor for example? That’s something we’ve discussed. Do you have a contractor that maintains the trail? You might get better value if they are doing the whole trail, so those are the kinds of things we have to look at,” adds Cunningham.

A 22 million dollar deal to buy the former rail bed from Canadian National was reached three years ago this month.

RDNO’s portion of the cost was 1.9 million dollars.