News Release - April 22, 2010

VICTORIA – Opposition MLAs John Horgan and Maurine Karagianis are hopeful that the provincial government is at last on track to support commuter rail on the E & N corridor. In response to their questions in the Legislature today, Transportation Minister Shirley Bond offered assurance that the province has completed gathering data on the project and is moving ahead with a strategy.

 "...There were two phases of the report," Minister Bond said. "The first phase was the gathering of data and the analysis of that data. We have virtually completed that phase, and we are looking at the second phase, which is looking at how we design a strategy for that corridor." 

For the last five years, Horgan, MLA for Juan de Fuca, and Karagianis, MLA for Esquimalt-Royal Roads, have championed the rehabilitation of the corridor and the implementation of a new train service that would carry commuters. "I’m pleased to hear the Minister’s comments," Horgan said. "This is a non-partisan issue that my community supports. I’m confident that when it gets up and running, commuters will use it."  

"All you have to do is sit stuck in traffic for a few minutes to know that the demand is there for commuter rail," Karagianis said. "I hear from constituents every day that want common sense solutions to our transportation challenges – and utilizing the E & N corridor, with commuter rail, and a rail trail, is smart thinking."  

Minister Bond said she recognizes the importance of the corridor and committed to involving the two West Shore MLAs in the process. "...We’d be happy to sit down with my staff and certainly have a briefing once we finalize the analysis and look at a phase two strategy," she told the Legislature. "Let’s sit down and have a conversation." 

 "I am pleased the Minister wants input and discussion with the local representatives," Horgan said. "Her open door approach is refreshing."