Okanagan Rail Trail near Coldstream (photo courtesy of Friends of the ORT)

By Pete McIntyre

No 'dead easy' route

Route proposed to link north and south rail trails

Feb 7, 2024 | 5:00 AM

Two local societies are spearheading an effort to find a route to connect the rail trails in the Shuswap and Okanagan,

Vernon’s Ribbons of Green and the Armstrong Spallumcheen Trails societies are jointly advocating for the construction of a 30 kilometre active transportation link to connect the north end of the Okanagan Rail Trail to Armstrong, where the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail will start.

(Image credit: RDNO/GVAC)

The groups will be making a presentation to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee on Wednesday (Feb. 7), outlining the proposal and the routes being looked at.

“At this stage, this is for information only. Requests for more direct involvement of multiple government agencies can be expected within the next 3-6 months,” Ribbons of Green director Ritchie Leslie said in a delegation request to the Regional District of North Okanagan.

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The groups say with the completion of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail, possibly in 2027, the link will create a 135 km trail connecting Sicamous in the north, to Kelowna in the south.

(Image credit: RDNO/GVAC)

A seven kilometre section of the trail north of the Kelowna Airport near Duck Lake has yet to be completed and is off-limits to the public, as the Okanagan Indian Band, CN Rail and the federal government work out a land ownership transfer.

According to the societies, trail users could ride from KM0 in Coldstream through Vernon using the bike route on 29th Street and to the Village Green Mall, and then to Pleasant Valley Road where they could go north.

Crozier and Pleasant Valley roads could be used to get from Spallumcheen’s municipal hall to the centre of Armstrong, which would leave a 4.4 km “gap” from the vicinity of the Highway 97A/97 intersection to Spallumcheen Township Hall

The groups say “gap” alternatives are under detailed evaluation with the Ministry of Transportation and Spallumcheen planners

“Options identified include the vicinity of the railroad right of way, Highway 97A right of way and Spallumcheen Township property,” the presentation to GVAC stated.

Ribbons of Green said in a ‘Bridging the Gap’ update over the summer, reactions to the proposed route from everyone they talked to was “positive, supportive and enthusiastic.”

“The benefits of a connection between the two rail trails have been self-evident to all we’ve engaged with. That being said, this will be a tricky project to pull off as there is no “dead easy” route. Many different government agencies are involved and easements from landowners may be needed. Careful planning will be required. And money,” the update stated.

The groups say informal discussions have been held with local politicians, municipal staff and with MLA Harwinder Sandhu and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming and all were supportive.