REGIONAL DISTRICT NORTH OKANAGAN Shuswap-North Okanagan (Sicamous-to-Armstrong) Rail-Trail Corridor Updated: July 12, 2019 Prepared by the Shuswap Trail Alliance For the Interjurisdictional Governance Advisory
Presentation Purpose: • to provide design and development projections to support. . . 1. contracting Environmental and Engineering Technical Designs; 2. securing capital funds to construct 3. realization of the full social/economic benefits of the corridor for Splatsin, Shuswap, and North Okanagan communities
Working Together. . .
The Sicamous-to-Armstrong Rail-Trail. . . Abandoned rail corridor along west shores of Mara Lake viewed from the Hyde Mountain Lookout
Timeline to date: • CP Rail Discontinuance 2009. . . • Splatsin Acquisition 2014 • Agreement to Work Together 2015 • Inter-Jurisdictional Team 2016 • Provincial Support/AAP 2017 Contributing $2.17 million • RDNO/CSRD Acquisition 2017 Total Cost: $6.5 million • BCRDP & CSRD Area E/Sicamous funding initiates planning 2019 • Develop, Operate, Maintain 2020. . . (See: Inter-Jurisdictional Update Brief Feb. 2018)
Joint Agreement to Develop, Operate, Maintain. . . • Ensure corridor remains contiguous • Operate and maintain as continuous recreational non-motorized greenway for walking & cycling (now) • As well as retain future potential as continuous multi-modal regional transportation corridor (future) • Covenant with each other a ROW for public access in perpetuity (See: Acquisition FAQ May 2017)
Strengthening Relationships/ Unfolding the True Story. . . • Intention to promote communication and strengthen relationships between communities & residents • “Unfolding the true story” within Secwepemc territory is fundamental to this approach in the North; • an initiative very much being led by Splatsin leadership in partnership with municipal/regional leadership; • and seen as complimenting & linking with the Okanagan Nation Territory and rail-trail efforts to the south. (See: MoU 2015, Pacific Caucus Presentation July 2017)
The Vision & Goals. . . • Commitment to work together cooperatively • Unfold the true story, promote communication, strengthen relationships (Secwepemc/munic/region) • Protect environmental, agricultural, & cultural values • Create tourism and transportation benefits • Revitalize Splatsin culture and connections to land • Maximize recreational and economic potential • Maintain continuous corridor for walking & cycling • Future use as flexible multi-modal transportation • Link with Okanagan Nation Territory & southern trail (See: Splatsin Brief 2015, MoU 2015, ToR 2016, Acquisition FAQ May 2017)
Questions still to address. . . • Equestrian use – is it compatible? • Policy for: dogs, e-bikes, and accessibility objectives • Structural trail design (surface, trailhead, signage, etc) • Future potential use as multi-modal corridor (See: Splatsin Brief 2015, Pacific Caucus Brief 2016, Acquisition FAQ 2017)
Regarding motorized recreational use. . . • Based on official community plans, local feedback, ecological/cultural protection goals, the desire to target destination cycle tourism, and potential co-use for future alternate transportation, motorized recreation is not seen as a compatible use of the corridor. (See: Splatsin Brief 2015, Pacific Caucus Brief 2016, Acquisition FAQ 2017)
approx. 50 kms Linking: • Sicamous • Mara approx. 26 kms • Grindrod • Enderby • Splatsin approx. 50 kms • Armstrong • CSRD Area E • NORD Area F • Township of Spallumcheen approx. 125 kms
Well designed, Well signed, Well maintained, Well promoted
Organizational Structure. . . • Inter-jurisdictional Governance Advisory Committee (Splatsin, CSRD, RDNO) established for policy, planning and decision making • Jointly held technical operational committee created to design, construct and maintain the trail • Project management and administrative support has been secured through the Shuswap Trail Alliance (See: Terms-of-References, 2019)
1. Inter-jurisdictional body (policy, planning, and decision-making) 2. Jointly held operational body (construct and maintain) 3. Project Management & Administrative Support 4. Technical staff, regional partners, community leadership, working groups, & sub-contractors, (as needed) – to implement: a) Short-term management b) Capital development (design/build) c) Long-term management plan d) Funding strategy & fund-raising e) Communications & PR (community engagement) f) Inter-regional collaboration
Inter-Jurisdictional Terms-of-Reference. . . • Have been developed and approved (2019) • A co-management agreement for joint operation of the Rail Trail is currently being developed
Timelines. . . 1. Short-Term Management (Sign/maintain: 1-3 years) 2. Capital Development (Design/Build: 2-5 years) 3. Long-Term Management (Maintain/Promote: 5 + years)
Development Funding: • Revenue from the existing and future tenure holders will be set aside to be used jointly by all parties for the development and maintenance of the multi modal corridor.
Key Management Goals: Development strategy must address. . . • Protect sensitive habitat and natural environments • Protect archeological & culturally significant sites • Prevent vandalism, garbage, noise, & unwanted use • Long-term access & safety for pedestrian & bicycle use • Connections to local amenities, destinations, & routes • Potential co-use for alternative transportation solutions • Link with Okanagan to create greenway to Osoyoos (See: Splatsin Brief 2015)
Additional Tools: • Splatsin/Regional/Municipal Strategic Plans • Regional Trail and Tourism Strategy • Shuswap Trails Roundtable & Shuswap Trail Alliance • Vernon’s Ribbons-of-Green, Armstrong-Spallumcheen Trail Society, Enderby/Armstrong Historical Society • Inter-Regional Collaboration – Okanagan Rail-Trail, Trails-to-the-Okanagans, KVR, TOTA. . .
Capital Development Build-Out: Anticipated Cost (Greenway) • based on engineering designs completed for a 420 metre Enderby-Splatsin section • 2% annual cost allowance (2015 – 2020) • Additional costs for assessments, designs, archeological, and erosion stabilization • And trail amenities, road crossings, signs • Bid-ready per/metre estimates = $258/metre (4 m wide shared walk/cycle paved asphalt pathway, including signage and entrance bollards) • 50 km rail-trail corridor = $12.9 million.
Key Next-Steps/Strategic Actions: 1. Public communication 2. Assemble/Confirm implementation funding 3. Convene Inter-jurisdictional body 4. Technical Operational body begins design work 5. Contract Project Management/Administrative support 6. Establish working groups & engage community leadership 7. Liaise with lease holders & adjacent property owners, farmers, and businesses 8. Install preliminary corridor access signage and filters 9. Implement community consultations 10.Develop Business plan and costing 11.Implement funding strategy 12.Pre-development corridor clean-up 13.Address bridge crossings, rock-scaling, water erosion 14.Follow-up with inter-regional partners (Sicamous-to-Osoyoos)
Our Opportunity. . . Abandoned rail corridor through Enderby Sicamous-to-Armstrong. . .
Thank you! Contact: railtrail@shuswaptrails.com
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