Railway Right of Way Negotiation for Community Trail Uses

WHEREAS in an effort to help their citizens become more active, and to reduce greenhouse gases and the negative effects on our environment through the overuse of vehicles, communities across BC are endeavouring to improve trail systems throughout their areas; AND WHEREAS many communities desire to utilize railway rights of way as a practical and cost effective way to develop community trails; AND WHEREAS municipal attempts to negotiate use of railway rights of way for community trails is an onerous and lengthy process which needlessly hampers community efforts: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request the Province of British Columbia to assist municipalities with negotiations for use of railway rights of way for community trails through the development of a standardized and provincially managed and regulated method for such negotiations.