"Commuter rail lifeline"

Yesterday the Ottawa media was saying 2037 .... I saw 2017 in the report ..now The Sun is reporting that a commuter rail service for Smiths Falls will be up and running in 3 years time. Great news.

"We're working aggressively to find replacement opportunities for the Hershey situation and Rideau Regional," said Smiths Falls Mayor Dennis Staples. "But given the fact that we will have people affected by job loss, and the opportunity for employment in the nation's capital, the opportunity for commuter rail travel makes it much more affordable and attractive for those individuals who want to stay in Smiths Falls and work in Ottawa."

He's already (Staples) had extensive discussions with Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien and task force chair David Collenette, and recently met with VIA Rail president Paul Cote to discuss using the stretch of track between Smiths Falls and Barrhaven, a commute of less than 30 minutes.

See ... Mayor Staples has been working hard on this .... but you wouldn't know it from The Record News..... but half a sentence they have devoted to the topic. Oh, and one letter to the editor that shares my view that this is the best hope we have. You need only look to Kemptville and Carleton Place to see what an efficent transportation link can do.

Now ... if we could get somebody from Montague to push for a stop at Boundary Road to serve a big subdivision out there .... full of Mounties. Big, expensive houses.