Many Greater Victoria residents could be asked during the November municipal elections whether they want the provincial and federal government to kick in funds to turn the E&N Rail Line into a commuter train service.

Colwood council has already agreed to the move and several other councils, including Langford, View Royal, Esquimalt, and Victoria, could be asked to follow suit.

Colwood council, acting on the recommendation of mayoral candidate Coun. Dave Saunders, agreed to ask residents the following question: "Are you in favour of the government of British Columbia in partnership with the federal government, providing funding to improve the rail infrastructure on the Vancouver Island E&N Railway and having B.C. Transit provide commuter rail passenger service from Langford to Victoria and an alternate mode of public transportation to bus service?"

Saunders said he didn't know how much support local government would be seeking from senior governments. "We'll take anything at this point," he said.

The motion drew praise from area MP Keith Martin who said LRT and the E&N are the "two most important investments we can make to build the transportation infrastructure we need for the next 50 years."

An assessment done this year for the Communities for Commuter Rail group of the feasibility of a West Shore Tram Line operating between Langford and downtown Victoria estimated it would cost about $16 million to develop an initial service and about $2 million a year in operating costs.

Capital Regional District chair Denise Blackwell, who is also Langford's deputy mayor, thinks the resolution is a good idea and expects Langford council to also consider putting it on that municipality's ballots.

"We're hoping to give an indication to the province for the kind of support there is out there," Blackwell said.

Blackwell conceded the question was a motherhood issue but said the response will be valid.

"It's one of those things where the province doesn't seem to be paying attention at the moment so we're hoping we'll at least have some evidence of how strongly the people in the West support the rail thing."

View Royal Mayor Graham Hill also said the issue is worthy of taking to his council.

Victoria Coun. Dean Fortin, an advocate of commuter rail between the West Shore and Victoria, said any question should more properly address what voters are prepared to do to bring about commuter rail.

Fortin said he's talked with current mayors between Victoria and Langford about commuter rail.

"We are ready to bring that commuter rail to the city. It's something to move forward first as part of a larger rail system," Fortin said.

"The question needs to be are municipal voters ready to step up. Are they ready to step up in partnership with the business community and in partnership with the province."

bcleverley@tc.canwest.com