An early morning news conference got a late start Wednesday as officials waited for a few key guests to arrive. For Esquimalt Saanich Sooke MP Stephanie McLean, the delay offered an ironic reminder of the transportation challenges facing the region. “I was late for the announcement today because I was stuck in the Colwood Crawl,” McLean said. McLean was there to unveil $500,000 in federal funding for a feasibility and technical study examining whether passenger rail service could return between Vic West and Langford. The money comes through the federal government’s Building Community Strong Fund and represents a significant step for a project that has been studied before. The Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the rail line, says the federal contribution is different because Ottawa is now directly involved in exploring what a future rail connection could look like. “There is now skin in the game for the Federal Government,” said Esquimalt Mayor Bard Desjardins, who is also co chair of the Island Corridor Foundation. Desjardins said the project aligns with several federal priorities, including major infrastructure projects that use Canadian materials such as timber and steel, improvements for active transportation and reconciliation. “The work that we’re doing is going to be detailed and it has to provide benefit,” she said. One of the biggest questions facing the project is the existing rail corridor through Esquimalt Nation lands. “My hope is that everyone has a buy in, especially my Nation, because I can’t make this choice on my own and it has to be ratified through my people,” said Esquimalt Nation Chief Jerome Thomeas. The study will examine whether the rail line could be rerouted around the Nation’s lands or remain along its existing alignment. If a new route is pursued, the proposed corridor would follow Hallowell Road before making a sharp turn toward Admirals Road. That raises another technical question: Can a modern light rail system safely navigate the tight curves that would be required? Passenger rail service on Vancouver Island ended in 2011. Since then, technology and light rail systems have continued to evolve. “Since 2011 there has been enormous technological advancements in light rail,” said View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias, who is also a director with the Island Corridor Foundation. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Its findings will help determine whether light rail could become a future transportation option for southern Vancouver Island. “I’m happy with this contribution, but more importantly, I think it signals that the Federal Government is coming on as a partner,” Tobias said.
