Funding to restore Island passenger rail service cleared the committee stage of the Regional District of Nanaimo board of directors this week.
The committee of the whole, which makes recommendations to the regional board, voted Tuesday to make a one-time grant of $950,000 to the Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the E&N Railway.
The ICF wants $3.2 million from five regional districts to restore bridges and trestles so Via Rail service can resume. Another $14.5 million in federal-provincial funding set aside for track restoration is frozen until that money is made available.
The vote got approval from all but one regional director. But it took the board some convincing to vote in favour of the motion, which will add a one-time cost of $10.92 on a property with an assessed value of $350,000 within the RDN.
Three regional districts have already voted to contribute: Alberni-Clayaquot; Capital; and Cowichan Valley. That leaves only the Comox Valley Regional District to vote.
Southern Rail, which runs E&N rail freight, would operate the passenger service under contract to Via Rail.
While the railway will need more repairs over the longer term, the $20.9-million repair budget would replace every fourth rail tie and do repairs said to be needed immediately, to keep the railway running for another decade.
But the paltry state of freight service - considered the bread and butter of any successful rail operation - caused more than one director to hesitate, due to concerns about the viability of the E&N.
Julian Fell, representative for Area F, Coombs, Hilliers and Errington, said he'd vote yes to continue the process, "but I may not vote yes two weeks from now," when the board finalizes its decision on the E&N funding, depending what he learns between now and then.
"We may be being lured into a black hole," he said, of growing costs.
Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan led the side in favour.
"Sometimes you have to make tough decisions in politics and this is one of them," Ruttan said.
The board meets next Nov. 27.
