Cape Breton University receives $610,000 for light rail line feasibility study
The train tracks in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality have been abandoned for nearly 10 years, but there is a new proposal to get passenger rail in the area back up and running.
"You've got a facility in North Sydney, you live in Glace Bay, you could take the train,” said Cape Breton University president David Dingwall.
Dingwall said a battery-powered train, which is being touted as Atlantic Canada's first light rail line, might be a big advantage for CBU students and the community at large, particularly given transportation challenges that have occurred as a result of the municipality’s growing population and influx of international students.
"Well if you go to Europe, the Go-Train is the thing, in the sense that you get on a Go-Train and you're somewhere else in 11 minutes,” Dingwall said. “So you wouldn't have to buy a car. You'd have to buy a ticket."
"If it's feasible, it will happen, but we've got to determine that first,” said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston.
Houston confirmed the Nova Scotia government is spending more than $600,000 to support a feasibility study for the light rail proposal.
Earlier in the week, the province discontinued its longtime maintenance subsidy of the Cape Breton rail line.
However, Houston said he sees potential in CBU’s idea.
"Certainly this is something that's over $100 million, I would think, but we'll see what the numbers look like and 'What are the benefits? What's the cost?' and we'll kind of weigh that up,” Houston told CTV Atlantic on Friday.
Currently, many sections of the tracks along the former Cape Breton-Central Nova Scotia rail line are overgrown with trees and shrubs, since the Cape Breton section of the line was discontinued by then-owner Gennessee & Wyoming in June 2014.
Dingwall confirmed there has not been any consultation yet about the new proposal with CBRM.
Municipal Councillor Eldon MacDonald said while the idea may seem far-fetched, and it's been floated in Halifax without success, a feasibility study paid for by the province is at least worth looking into.
"I guess when you first read it, you wonder 'How's that going to happen?'", MacDonald said. "I think there's other opportunities there, so if light rail would also be using that corridor then there's other partners that may be able to help share in that expense of the overall redevelopment of that line."
CBU’s community engagement program and special projects manager, Kent MacIntyre, said the university has been working with international engineering firm AECOM on a pre-feasibility study.
Dingwall said the institution also plans to ask various levels of government for funding, and to get a feel for what people around town think of the idea.
"Consultation with the municipality, that would certainly be number two. Number three is consultations with a variety of user groups,” Dingwall said.
Houston said he expects the first step, which is the feasibility study, will take a couple of months.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.