From Kanata out past Fitzroy Harbour: Former CN Rail line to become year-round recreational trail

A plan is in the works for the City of Ottawa to acquire a former CN Rail corridor for recreational purposes.

“I'm very pleased to share the city's plans to acquire the former railway corridor known as the Beachburg Subdivision, with the intention of protecting it for future transportation use as a year-round recreational trail,” says Kanata North Ward City Councillor Jenna Sudds.

The corridor, which is approximately 35.2 kilometres long and 30 metres wide, extends from 64.5 metres north of the junction with the Renfrew rail corridor in the Greenbelt, through Kanata North and the rural area to Morris Island Drive, just east of the Ottawa River.

“I have been actively advocating for the city to purchase this corridor since I was elected in 2018,” Sudds said. “In my mind, it is important to take advantage of great opportunities such as this one, for providing pathways for recreation in addition to a connection to other parts of the city.”

Sudds says, while the short-term plan is to use the corridor as a recreational trail, there is always the option to use it as a railway again if needed.

“We've seen in other areas of the city, that they've been used for LRT, for example, so longer-term, it's hard to say, but it's good to have it at our availability should it be required in the future for other modes of transportation,” Sudds told CityNews Ottawa. “As we grow, I think we will need to look at whether it's light rail transit in years out or whether its even preserving them for new technology.”

Sudds says the corridor, which hasn't been used for many years, has already had railway tracks and ties removed, and the city has retained an engineering consultant to identify, inspect, and estimate renewal needs and costs.

A preliminary cost estimate is expected to be completed by September 3, 2021 and presented to the finance committee this fall.