My statement of support for Restore Island Rail.
I support the restoration and use of the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor as part of an integrated, inter-regional transportation system that includes transit, rail, alternative and active forms of transportation like biking and walking.
In a time of converging crises of affordability, global economic instability, climate change and environmental decline, it makes sense financially, ecologically and socially to restore rail to Vancouver Island. Doing this – and doing it sooner than later – would give us an effective, significant and achievable way to decarbonize. It would stimulate the local economy, enabling our island communities to work and connect to each other more effectively and sustainably. And it would also save us money.
With more than 450,000 fossil-fuel burning cars on the Island needing to be replaced with electric ones, the cost for us to do this individually will be collectively much, much higher – about 10 times more – than the cost of building a modern, Island-wide, regional transportation system that includes rail.
We need an efficient, modernized transportation system that includes rail. We needed it yesterday. Let’s get it built today.