The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), the group that owns and manages the former E&N corridor on Vancouver Island, issued a release on Tuesday, saying the province has completed a Request for Proposal process for a corridor assessment, chosen an engineering firm to lead the assessment and named a project manager.
“Although we have disagreed with the province regarding the methodology and timing of the assessment, we do recognize the need for it, and are committed to working with the province to ensure the assessment is conducted as efficiently as possible. We will begin the assessment in the next few weeks,” stated the release.
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The ICF’s litigation with the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation was slated to proceed to court in May and the ICF entered negotiations with the Nation to find a resolution without going to trial.
“Unfortunately, those efforts did not result in an agreement,” stated the release. “The case will now be rescheduled for trial, in the interim, we remain committed to finding a resolution to these issues and will continue working towards settlement with the Nation.”
This summer, ICF will work closely with their rail partner SVI, on several necessary maintenance and capital projects up and down the corridor. Those plans include much needed brush cutting and removal, landscaping improvement around stations on the corridor, and trail development and construction.
— NEWS staff, submitted