Re: 鈥淎ttack on rail group was disrespectful,鈥� letter, Dec. 15.
In his rebuttal to Wilfrid Worland鈥檚 E&N Corridor commentary, the letter-writer suggests that Friends of Rails to Trails Society and those who are calling for the corridor to be used as a trail rather than a rail line do not appreciate the efficiency of rail, are heedless of the traffic issues on the Island and 鈥渓ike seeing more trucks.鈥�
This is simply not the case. It is the many facts and circumstances clearly articulated in Worland鈥檚 commentary that speak to why most, if not all of the corridor, is not feasible for modern rail. We have a corridor that cannot address modern public-transportation needs.
I have a long history of supporting public transportation to reduce single-car occupancy; if there were even a remote possibility of operating a modern train in this corridor, I would join the struggle to maintain it. Unfortunately, low population densities on the Island outside of the capital region (the only region that could support rapid transit), 240 level crossings along this corridor that crisscrosses highway and major streets, and its sharp S curves preclude the operation of a modern train.
It is indeed time to set aside our romance with trains on this corridor and realistically look for other uses that will benefit the public and community economies of Vancouver Island possible with this valuable community connector.
Denise Savoie
Comox
