Budget 2024: A Small Step for Rail in Alberta
$9 Million for a 15-year passenger rail network plan is a foundational step; but more must follow.
In what has been described as a “belt-tightening” budget, the Alberta government has decided to put millions of dollars towards passenger rail. It is encouraging to see $9 million allocated for a 15-year passenger rail network plan, which also explicitly mentions the development of an implementation plan. This will lay the groundwork for any future government to have a course of action and direction on this type of project.
In our conversations with the Premier, we were glad to hear talk of developing a provincial entity (e.g. a crown corporation) to oversee regional transportation operations and the creation of this long-term plan.
While this is still a far reach from a commitment to actually running a train service, we are hopeful that this long-term plan will include quick wins such as a pilot project geared towards collecting data and working with the freight railways. This investment has already gone further than previous governments and looks to the future of sustainable rail travel. A good foundation is important, and this $9 million can get us there.
In future newsletters we plan to explore what a long-term vision for Rail in Alberta might look like; and how we can leverage existing and abandoned rail corridors to do so.