E&N Rail Trail

The E&N Rail Trail is a {{convert|17|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} paved bike and pedestrian trail designed to be a non-motorized recreation and commuter connection to downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and runs through Esquimalt, View Royal, and Langford.{{Cite news|url=https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/capital-projects/e-n-rail-trail|title=E&N Rail Trail|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://visitorinvictoria.ca/en-rail-trail-victoria-bc-biking/|title=E & N Rail Trail {{!}} Visitor In Victoria|website=visitorinvictoria.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-10-27}} The E&N Rail Trail was also designed to connect with existing popular trail systems such as the Galloping Goose Regional Trail or Lochside Regional Trails.{{Cite news|url=https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/e-n-rail-trail|title=E&N Rail Trail|access-date=2018-10-27|language=en}} The trail lays alongside a suspended yet active rail line (Southern Railway of Vancouver Island or SVI).{{Cite web |url=http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/rail-crossing-on-idle-e-n-line-green-lighted-for-upgrade-1.23343326 |title=Rail crossing on idle E&N line green-lighted for upgrade |last=Cleverley |first=Bill |website=Times Colonist |access-date=2018-12-09}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cheknews.ca/new-section-along-en-rail-trail-to-begin-construction-in-fall-480488/ |title=New section along E&N rail trail to begin construction in fall |last=Alvarez |first=Luisa |date=2018-08-16 |website=CHEK |language=en-CA |access-date=2018-12-09}} The trail is named for SVI's predecessor Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway.

Construction

Construction started in 2009, and planned as a multi phase construction throughout the region. The projected costs of the project is estimated at $36,000,000. Primary funding of this project come from the Canadian Federal Government through the following contributions:

Regionally Significant Projects, Strategic Priorities Gas Tax funding ($14 million)
The Western Economic Diversification Fund ($1 million)
Bike BC ($2.7 million) and Local Motion funding ($275,000).
The CRD has covers all other costs ($2.2 million){{Cite news|url=https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/capital-projects/e-n-rail-trail|title=E&N Rail Trail|access-date=2018-11-09|language=en}}

Construction of this trail is managed by the CRD Regional Parks and CRD Environmental Engineering utilizing municipal and partnerships with local First Nation partners. First Nations partners acknowledged are in Victoria, Esquimalt, View Royal, Langford, Songhees Nation, and the Esquimalt Nation. The Province of BC and Island Corridor Foundation/Southern Rail of Vancouver Island are also construction partners in this project.

References

Category:Vancouver Island

Category:Rail trails in British Columbia