The day is getting closer to when our community will know the result of the negotiations between our elected representatives and a private company which has purchased large parcels of land in Melancthon and Mulmur and is now interested in purchasing the abandoned rail line that runs the length of Dufferin County. There are two points we would like to make regarding this matter.

Any deal to sell this rail corridor needs to include a provision, and funding, to create a recreational trail beside the rail line.

In 2006, Headwaters Communities in Action (HCIA) consulted broadly with our community and heard the keen interest in safeguarding and nurturing the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of our community. To achieve this, HCIA was asked to provide community leadership and action on six projects that were beyond the scope of any one organization or jurisdiction. The project that was identified as the highest priority - was to support the creation of a "Headwaters" communitywide multi-purpose trail system. In response, HCIA struck a Trails Working Group to work on this initiative. This working group convened more than 70 interested individuals and groups who collectively considered a number of options and prioritized five: the Island Lake trail, bike lanes on County roads, a trail south of Orangeville into Caledon connecting the Caledon Trailway to Island Lake, a safe crossing of Highway 10 at Broadway and, the centre-piece of the entire network, a recreational trail along the length of Dufferin's rail line. Then we heard news of the negotiations and pending sale of that rail line.

In a number of meetings with the County, two successive wardens, the County's CAO and in separate meetings with the company looking at purchasing the land, we made the case as to the importance of ensuring that a trail is built beside the rail line if it is re-established. For more than a decade Dufferin's rail bed has functioned as an undeveloped trail for hikers and cyclists as well as a primary route for local snowmobilers.

We listened to the concerns expressed at these meetings and then went to work researching how they could be mitigated. For instance, there was a concern that it would be unsafe to locate a recreational trail beside a rail line. We were surprised to learn that there is considerable information and experience available to answer this specific question. It turns out that trails beside rail lines are safe and already exist in every province in Canada. In fact, there are few problems and less vandalism where recreational trails exist beside rail lines.

More information, including photo examples, research data and design specifications for trails beside rail lines can be found at our website: http://www.headwaterscommunities. ca/trails/ind ex.php

In a great many places across Canada, the US and beyond, communities have been enjoying recreational trails beside rail lines for years.

We want the same for Headwaters.

We have provided suggestions and advice on how the County might ensure that there were both the capability and resources required to complete this recommended trail within a few years. We believe revenue from the sale of Dufferin's rail corridor needs to be used to fund the creation of a trail. Our hope is that Council members have the vision to ensure that this community asset is restored as soon as possible as a condition of the sale of the rail line.

The second point we want to make regarding this matter is:

Citizens need to have the opportunity to learn more about the potential benefits and concerns of reestablishing a rail line in Dufferin from a variety of perspectives.

Research has shown that the most sustainable communities are those that are able to balance social, economic and environmental considerations in an integrated way that meets both present and future needs. The decision to sell Dufferin's rail line needs to be made after considering the potential risks and benefits from such a broad and balanced perspective.

We are pleased that County Council recently passed a motion to hold public discussions about the potential rail sale. As this issue is debated, citizens need to be given information so that we are informed and engaged in evaluating this deal's likely impact on our community's overall well-being. Will reinstating the rail line provide more economical shipping alternatives for local industries? Will it help attract new employers - and jobs - to our region? Will transferring freight from truck to rail reduce spending on road infrastructure? Will it lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions? What will happen to the recreational trail that local hikers, cyclists and snowmobilers have used for more than a decade? As the pending sale nears conclusion, it is worth reflecting on what our community might hope for.
Bob Baynham
Dave Holwell
Fred Knetsch
Headwaters
Communities in Action
Trails Working Group