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Few Oppose RDNO Loan For Rail Trail North

Jul 20, 2017 | 10:20 AM

The Regional District of North Okanagan can now go ahead and borrow money for its share of the proposed North Okanagan/Shuswap Rail Trail project.

The Alternative Approval Process ended Monday and only 91 people signed their opposition.

It would have taken one thousand 658 signatures to defeat the plan.

Acting RDNO Board Chair Juliette Cunningham says the board passed the loan bylaw Wednesday.

“It’s a great opportunity for a contiguous trail throughout the southern interior”

The RDNO’s share of the project is 2.17 billion dollars.

It will borrow all of it with repayment of 20 years.

Total cost to purchase the 43 kilometres of the rail corridor is six and a half million dollars.

The provincial government and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District are also paying one third each.

The CSRD will also borrow the majority of its 2.17 million dollar share.

The land acquisition is also being done in conjunction with the Splatsin First Nation which has already acquired seven kilometres of the corridor.

A study still must be done to determine the actual cost of developing a trail and how to pay for development.