Brockville Ontario - Brockville's railway tunnel project is finally about to leave the station, even if some city councillors have questions about the ultimate destination.
 
City council on Tuesday backed a resolution approving "the vision, plans, and budget" of the railway tunnel committee's project to restore the historic railway tunnel, deemed Canada's first, by the summer of 2017.
 
The plan also calls on the city to eventually develop the vacant railway properties adjacent to the tunnel and improve Armagh S. Price Park, "in order to create Brockville's new Railway Tunnel Park."
 
"Brockville's waited a long time for the opening of the tunnel," said councillor Jane Fullarton.
 
"This is going to be a destination," agreed councillor Phil Deery, adding the tunnel is "a natural tourist attraction."
 
City hall will now put out tenders for the first phase of the work, which includes restoration of the tunnel and north gorge.
 
That involves masonry repairs and rock stabilization, as well as work on the drainage system, concrete travel surface, lighting, ventilation, safety, security features, slope stabilization, access ramp, and landscaping features.
 
That first phase has a budget of $2,500,000.
 
The second phase is a longer-term project that is still in the conceptual phase, tunnel committee chairman and councillor David LeSueur told his colleagues.
 
It includes the development of the vacant former railway lands north of the intersection of Tunnel Avenue and Brock Street, which the city now owns.
 
That would include a tour bus and visitor parking area, a "Roundhouse Visitors Centre" multi-purpose building, and the acquisition of one or more antique railway cars for tour train office and historical displays.
 
Phase Two would also include the improvements to Armagh S. Price Park at the south end, including new public restrooms, a tourist information and attractions ticket kiosk, and the acquisition of a railway dining car for a restaurant.
 
Councillors backed the motion after modifying it to make it clear the second phase would have to come back for later approval.
 
Reopening the tunnel would also make it part of the Brock Trail.
 
"Our vision is to make Railway Tunnel Park the new central hub of our city's expanded Brock Trail," said Linda Eyre, the tunnel committee's vice-chairman of fundraising and a former city councillor.
 
Since taking over the rail tunnel in 1983, the city has invested more than $750,000 to maintain its structural integrity.
 
More recently, in 2014, council committed $300,000 to the restoration project, in $75,000 payments over four years.
 
That commitment is part of the $1,150,000 in grants and donations the tunnel committee has officially secured for the first phase.
 
The city has already bought the former railway lands northeast of William and Brock Streets, thanks to an as-yet unnamed donor, Eyre told councillors, while a donor has also given the group money to purchase a soft-tired tour train to run back and forth through the tunnel.
 
The motion calls on the city to seek construction financing from Infrastructure Ontario, bridge funding that would allow the work to go ahead before the pledged funding is collected.
 
"We will only borrow what we have pledges for," LeSueur told council, promising not to put the city at financial risk.
 
The budget for the second phase has been set at $1,500,000, but a more accurate budget is expected once details are finalized.
 
Eyre told councillors the committee aims to reach the total $4 million goal through fundraising.
 
"Our early donors are giving us the confidence that we will be able to implement our project successfully," said Eyre.
 
The tunnel committee's goal is to get the first phase done in time for next year's celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary and to invite high-level government officials to the opening ceremony.
 
While councillors are on board for the vision of a refurbished, well lit, and paved tunnel, the project's longer-term goals continue to meet with some skepticism.
 
Councillor Jeff Earle, while supporting the first phase of the project, was not ready to support the second.
 
In particular, he expressed concerns about the tour train's ability to clear the tunnel while it hosts pedestrians and cyclists, LeSueur sought to provide assurance.
 
Councillor Jason Baker similarly supported the first phase but expressed caution about the second.
 
"As long as there is a very firm understanding, that the elements of Phase Two come back for council approval, then I'm happy supporting the motion tonight," said Baker.
 
Ronald Zajac.