The County of Simcoe is hoping you’ll choo-choo-choose to give your input on the future of the Barrie-Collingwood Rail Trail.
Public consultations are now open for the county’s Barrie-Collingwood Rail Trail project, which will see the county-owned portion of the former rail line converted into a multi-use trail. First proposed in 2019, the timeline for the project was put on hold due to the pandemic, but now the county is ramping up on the project again, asking the public what they think should be included.
The Barrie-Collingwood Railway runs from Collingwood to Barrie, running through Nottawa, Stayner, New Lowell, Angus and Utopia. The portion of the railway owned by the County of Simcoe – which would be the subject of the project – runs for 32 kilometres from Stayner to the Fifth Line in Angus.
“In 2022, the county is investing more than $26 million in construction and maintenance projects, including consultation and planning work on the Barrie-Collingwood Railway Trail,” said Rob Elliott, general manager of engineering, planning and environment with the county. “We encourage county residents to provide us with helpful input which will contribute to the planning and environmental assessment components of this project.”
Public feedback will be accepted through a questionnaire until Feb. 18.
Last discussed by county council in 2019, a preliminary design document for the trail contained multiple suggestions on how the trail can be converted. It recommended pulling out the rails to sell for scrap metal but burying and paving over the rail ties, minimizing costs.
Preliminary cost opinions are also included in the design report. The estimated construction costs for the trail total $4.7 million. Also proposed as part of the conversion is construction of three staging areas for users to park their vehicles: one in Angus at a cost of $220,500, one in New Lowell at a cost of $201,540 and one in Stayner at a cost of $276,780.
The report also recommends identifying $2,500 per kilometre for annual maintenance costs which works out to approximately $57,500 for the 23-kilometre trail.
As the railway has not been used for trains in years and many parts are not maintained, parts of the line are currently overgrown and are in various stages of disrepair.
SEE MORE: Plans on track to give abandoned railway corridor a facelift
To view the video environmental assessment presentation, read the preliminary design report or fill out the questionnaire, visit the County of Simcoe’s website here.
