WHEREAS transportation corridors are vital to the transportation of goods and people throughout the province; AND WHEREAS some corridors are being abandoned, especially some rail corridors; AND WHEREAS these abandoned rail corridors can become vital and valuable corridors for recreational uses such as hiking, cycling, skiing and snowshoeing; AND WHEREAS these corridors should be open to all residents of BC: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government facilitate public acquisition and ownership of abandoned transportation corridors; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province work with UBCM to develop a funding mechanismfor example, a province-wide parcel tax similar to the Municipal Finance Authority taxto assist governments or community groups to purchase and maintain abandoned transportation corridors for public recreational use.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations The Province of British Columbia has acquired over 2000 km of former rail corridors for transportation, utility transmission or recreation purposes. The Province evaluates each corridor for potential acquisition as part of the federally regulated abandonment process. Where the Province declines to acquire abandoned rail corridors for public purposes and where communities want to acquire the corridor, the Province will consider opportunities to work with local governments to explore options for acquisition. The Ministry is committed to the development of a world-renowned network of recreation trails and continues to support regional and local trail development through implementation of the Trails Strategy for BC.