Oxford County could help bridge the gap in the Trans Canada Trail
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Oxford County has taken the first step to becoming part of the Trans Canada Trail system.
On Wednesday, Oxford County council approved in principle a recommendation to allow the former CASO railway right of way to be used to bridge a 20-kilometre gap in the trail system between Tillsonburg and Norfolk County.
“(Trans Canada Trail has) approached us about using the CASO Railway, which is an abandoned railway the county owns,” said Rob Walton, director of public works for Oxford County.
“Council has authorized staff to work with our partners … the Town of Tillsonburg, the Township of Norwich, the Township of South-West Oxford and Trans Canada Trail to work on a partnership agreement.”
The goal of the Trans Canada Trail is to have a complete trail system by 2017.
“The timing is interesting in this because we are doing our Trails Master Plan at the same time. Since this opportunity is here and being discussed with an end goal of 2017… it is important for us to initiate the discussions now,” Walton said. “As the owner of that piece of land, we are definitely an important partner so we have had a very good initial discussion with the other partners and they are all going back to their respective councils and we look forward to formulating a plan.”
Becoming a part of the 23,000-kilometre national trail system, Walton said, will be a great opportunity for the county.
“I think for the public in Oxford County that enjoy trails and hopefully the public that will come to enjoy trails when we have more, this is a very exciting project,” he said.
“It could be a very exciting project for tourism in Oxford County also as you are part of something that is a Canada-wide thing. It obviously is going to draw more attention.”