Travelsmart
Nearly $8 million will need to be raised to develop 50 kilometres of former CN Rail track now owned by municipalities from Kelowna to Coldstream.
Councils and boards representing Kelowna, Lake Country, the Okanagan Indian Band and North Okanagan Regional District will be asked to approve development and fundraising plans in coming weeks.
The development plan, as proposed, would cost $7.86 million.
Development would include basic trail construction, signage, drainage upgrades as well as bridges and rock scaling where needed.
Since the trail will be used primarily by pedestrians and cyclists, composition would consist of crushed gravel. For the most part, it would be 4.6 metres in width.
Warning signs at many of the 30 railway crossings would also be installed.
To pay for the project, funds will need to be raised privately. The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative will facilitate the effort.
Spokesman Brad Clements said municipalities and the province stepped up to purchase the land, now it’s the community’s turn to step forward and raise the money to build the trail.
“The vision of the campaign is there will be a number of campaign partners and trail ambassadors that will be out in the communities,” said Clements. “We’re already starting to see it happen. We’ve got Rotary planning events, we have bike clubs planning events, we have hikers that are planning events.”
Until formal approval is obtained from the various councils and boards, the campaign is not able to formally accept cheques.
Fundraising is expected to begin next month. If that happens, it’s possible construction could begin as early as later this year.
According to a report council will preview Monday, early construction could include barriers, gates and signage to deter unauthorized access until the trail is complete.
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