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Simcoe County to consider rail line acquisition
08 agosto 2011
The Barrie-Collingwood Railway (BCRY) may have a little more life left in it. There's a motion on the agenda for the County of Simcoe's Planning and Economic Development committee for its August 10th meeting that reads:
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT staff be authorized to enter into discussions with the Town of Collingwood to acquire the Town’s portion of the Barrie-Collingwood Railway line should it be offered to provincial government and local municipalities as outlined in item CS 11-131;
AND THAT the Town of Collingwood be so notified.
As I recently wrote in this post, the Town of Collingwood decided to end the rail service because it was no longer being used by local industries enough to justify the $300,000 a year cost to taxpayers, plus the expected costs to update and repair the corridor in 2011.
Seems the County might be keen to keep the rail line open for a little longer. That would allow the rail line to remain in use while the County has discussions on its own long-term transportation and growth plans. The costs for the necessary upgrades would be picked up by the county, if this takeover happens. And the Town of Collingwood would get some welcome cash from the deal.
The report that accompanies the recommendation notes:
There's no detail yet about what they mean by acquisition: is it the entire corridor (including land) and equipment? Or just the rails and tolling stock with right of way to use the land? Some other option? That remains to be seen. Collingwood has an interest in maintaining some rights on the land because it contains our water pipeline and could be used in the future for fibre optic lines (part of the original plan when installing the pipeline).
Of course, this has to be approved by the P&ED committee then by County Council before anything changes. As far as I am aware, no other agency has shown any interest in acquiring the line. Collingwood Council has not discussed the County's recommendation, since nothing has been formally presented to us. If the County chooses to move ahead with that recommendation, the issue will be on a future agenda.
I am encouraged by this recommendation to hope the rail line might have some future use that benefits the town.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT staff be authorized to enter into discussions with the Town of Collingwood to acquire the Town’s portion of the Barrie-Collingwood Railway line should it be offered to provincial government and local municipalities as outlined in item CS 11-131;
AND THAT the Town of Collingwood be so notified.
As I recently wrote in this post, the Town of Collingwood decided to end the rail service because it was no longer being used by local industries enough to justify the $300,000 a year cost to taxpayers, plus the expected costs to update and repair the corridor in 2011.
Seems the County might be keen to keep the rail line open for a little longer. That would allow the rail line to remain in use while the County has discussions on its own long-term transportation and growth plans. The costs for the necessary upgrades would be picked up by the county, if this takeover happens. And the Town of Collingwood would get some welcome cash from the deal.
The report that accompanies the recommendation notes:
Quote
The Town of Collingwood for budgetary reasons has decided to discontinue owning and operating its portion of the Barrie-Collingwood Railway (a total of 23.85 miles from Utopia to Collingwood). As a result, as directed by the Shortline Railway Act, the Town of Collingwood has officially given notice of its intent to dispose of their portion of the railway line and has given due notice according to the legislation. Any parties interested in purchasing the Town of Collingwood’s interest, for the expressed purpose of continuing a railway operation, must do so in writing by 16:30 hours on August 8, 2011.
If no written expression of interest has been received then the Town of Collingwood will then be in a legal position to offer to transfer its interest in the railway line to the provincial government or local municipalities.
The Planning and Economic Development Office believe that it is the best interest of the County of Simcoe to acquire and protect this transportation corridor if no other party steps forward to continue operating the rail line.
If no written expression of interest has been received then the Town of Collingwood will then be in a legal position to offer to transfer its interest in the railway line to the provincial government or local municipalities.
The Planning and Economic Development Office believe that it is the best interest of the County of Simcoe to acquire and protect this transportation corridor if no other party steps forward to continue operating the rail line.
There's no detail yet about what they mean by acquisition: is it the entire corridor (including land) and equipment? Or just the rails and tolling stock with right of way to use the land? Some other option? That remains to be seen. Collingwood has an interest in maintaining some rights on the land because it contains our water pipeline and could be used in the future for fibre optic lines (part of the original plan when installing the pipeline).
Of course, this has to be approved by the P&ED committee then by County Council before anything changes. As far as I am aware, no other agency has shown any interest in acquiring the line. Collingwood Council has not discussed the County's recommendation, since nothing has been formally presented to us. If the County chooses to move ahead with that recommendation, the issue will be on a future agenda.
I am encouraged by this recommendation to hope the rail line might have some future use that benefits the town.
