CVRD Island Rail Corridor Visioning

thinkmodus
4 days ago
2 min read

Navigating Complexity Toward a Shared Future.

THE CHALLENGE

Stretching across Vancouver Island, the Island Rail Corridor holds transformative potential: it could improve regional connectivity, support a shift toward sustainable transportation, strengthen climate and emergency resilience, and boost economic and tourism opportunities. Nearly 80% of Vancouver Island’s population lives within 10 km of this corridor, and with this, the future of these lands have the potential to reshape the island's future.

Yet realizing that potential is far from simple. Planning for the corridor’s future requires coordination across five regional districts, 14 municipalities, several First Nations, and multiple levels of government. Many First Nations have lands bisected by the corridor, and the colonial legacy of land grants adds further complexity. Despite these challenges, the corridor remains intact—a rare opportunity to bring diverse voices together in the co-creation of a shared vision.

THE RESPONSE

To explore the future of the corridor, the Province initiated a collaborative planning process across the Island. The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), responsible for approximately 67 km of the corridor, led the visioning process with Stantec and support from MODUS, and KI Squared.

MODUS led the design and delivery of a multi-faceted engagement strategy, including intergovernmental coordination, public outreach, and First Nations engagement. This included one-on-one and group meetings with affected Nations, interviews with interest holders, a working group, a public survey (with over 4,000 responses), and open house events. Three First Nations also initiated parallel planning processes, with MODUS supporting respectful, reciprocal information sharing to help articulate each Nation’s interests and concerns.

Alongside robust engagement, the planning team conducted technical, environmental, and financial analysis—covering remediation needs, construction and operating costs, ridership demand, and population and land use scenarios. The final outcome was the CVRD Island Rail Corridor: Towards a Shared Vision report.