Pembroke, ON - The Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDC) of Renfrew and Pontiac Counties have partnered in an endeavour to promote the establishment of commuter rail service between the Ottawa Valley and Pontiac with the City of Ottawa/Gatineau. This service will support the proactive diversification of the area’s traditionally resource-based economy, encourage new business and manufacturing opportunities and job creation, as well as contribute to the healthy sustainable development of Ottawa Valley and Pontiac communities. Currently, both corporations are in the preliminary phases of this project.
Partial funding secured through the Eastern Ontario Development Program has allowed the partnership to commission a feasibility study with the RailFuture Group Inc., to assess if, when and how the project should proceed towards implementation. Other similar parallel initiatives and/or considerations are currently underway elsewhere within rural communities in Eastern Ontario.
Public support is paramount for this endeavour to move forward. In an effort to assess the current needs, preferences and support for such a transportation system in the Ottawa Valley, a public survey has been made available online, in both official languages. Renfrew and Pontiac County residents play a key role in the decision-making process for the advancement of this project and are strongly encouraged to participate in this initial survey process.
The survey can be found via links from the CFDC websites www.rccfdc.org or www.commercepontiac.ca. Results of the survey will be made available to the public in April 2009.
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For more information:
Diane McKinnon Louise Donaldson
CFDC Renfrew County SADC Pontiac
613.735.3951 819.648.2186
mckinnon@bellnet.ca sadc@commercepontiac.ca
*Please note that the survey is no longer available. | 
