Choosing Our Future

A coalition with a vision to dynamically transform the way Vancouver Islanders live, work and play in their communities. We envision Vancouver Island being a safe, progressive, environmentally sensitive, energy self sufficient and life‐sustaining place for all its inhabitants.

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Membership

If you would like to support our objectives, please apply for membership here.

Transit Archives

This is the reference location for articles that have been "current" news and, for the most part, will be found in chronological sequence.

Some of the most useful references are given in earlier pages relating to transit, but please browse here for a comprehensive list of interenet references.

Recent "Current" Letters

Options for Island Commuter Rail Service

Rail Service on Vancouver Island

B.C. Electric Railway Company purchase of Victoria property - 1910 - with exciting plans for the peninsula!

Via Rail - Travel between Victoria and Courtenay - On the E&N Rail Line - Book your own trip!

Click Here - for the sound and sight of the current train travelling through View Royal (Victoria)

Click Here - for a CRD press release (Sep 09) re the Rail Trail from Victoria to Langford by 2010.

Latest News re E&N - Dayliner may operate from Nanaimo instead of Langford - Nov 2009

E & N Division of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association - with links of interest there and below:

Nanaimo E&N Station - history and renovation plans - Port Alberni's Heritage Railway

Options for Providing Commuter Rail Service Between Langford and Victoria BC as presented by Geoff Pearce, September 2008,  C4CR (Communities for Commuter Rail)

Colwood Transit Interests as of April 2009

since that date, Westshore interests have been growing!

Community Liaison Committee Membership List - Victoria, BC (CRD)

This committee is charged with the task of determining the best options for improving access from the Western Communities to downtown Victoria and the Saanich Penninsula.  Click here for the current list of CLC members.

Victoria is not alone in the Traffic Jam Jungle !

Auckland, NZ 2006 (Do some of our officials have a similar fixation for rubber on the road?)

How to Install Rail Electrification and Its Financial Benefits

The UK provides a model for Vancouver Island and BC (Click Here)

Historical Railroading Facts & References

Who built Canada's first rail system?

The Changeover from Horse drawn Streetcars to Electric - Victoria BC 1888
"At the weekly meeting of the Board of Aldermen held on September 19th 1888, Council was presented with two applications asking for the right to establish a street railway system in the city."  
Chapter 4 "The National Electric Tramway and Lighting Company" Page 25 

Other notable statements:- one refers to the rush to buy up land along the announced line to the Esquimalt Naval Base and another refers to the idea of having a line to the Peninsula whereby a rail freight service could bring produce into the city. 
Another one:-  A writer to the Colonist objected to the placing of rails on Fort, Government and Store streets.  Another citizen offered this rebuttal, "To shut the cars of Government, Yates and Fort streets would be to rob them of one-half of their value and importance to citizens as well as preventing the lines from ever becoming a paying proposition." (Colonist, Nov. 28, 1888, p2)
excerpts from Douglas Parker
What are the CO2 (GHG) Emissions of Transit Vehicles?
(take your choice)
All Show that Electric Modes are the least damaging to our atmosphere!
(assuming that electric energy has not been produced by fossil fuels)

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