Ontario Construction News staff writer
Officials in Kingston and South Frontenac are calling on the federal government to align a proposed high-speed rail line along the Highway 401 corridor and include a station in Kingston, arguing the current southern route would harm rural communities and sensitive landscapes.
In a joint statement released with community group Save South Frontenac, the municipalities said routing the Alto project along existing transportation infrastructure would reduce impacts on farmland, wetlands and residential areas.
“If the federal government is going ahead with this $60–90 billion project, it must be realistic and focused on minimizing impacts to property owners, agricultural lands, natural heritage systems, and rural communities,” Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson and South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal said in a statement. “This is not just about infrastructure. It is about people, common sense, sustainability, and protecting what makes our region unique.”
Alto has extended its online public consultation on the high-speed rail plan until Fri., Apr. 24.
An interactive map is available and the company is seeking comments on two proposed routes for the service that will run from Toronto to Montreal. Click the link for more information or to complete the survey: https://en.consultation.altotrain.ca/shaping-the-canada…
There will also be additional virtual information sessions on:
- , March 23, 7 to 8:45 p.m. (English)
- , March 26, 7 to 8:45 p.m. (French)
Join with this link: https://www.altotrain.ca/en/public-consultation
The mayors warned that a new corridor through undeveloped areas would fragment farms, disrupt tourism and recreation, and alter the character of rural communities. It also raised concerns about potential land expropriation, dead-end roads and reduced access to agricultural parcels.
Pointing to the presence of environmentally sensitive features in the region, including the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, Mayors say there are areas should be protected from large-scale infrastructure development.
“South Frontenac’s landscape includes nationally significant natural heritage features, including the UNESCO Frontenac Arch Biosphere, prime agricultural lands and fragile ecosystems that must be protected,” the mayors said. “Running high-speed rail through rural areas will disrupt communities whose livelihoods depend on farming, tourism and stewardship of the environment.”
At the same time, local leaders said the project could bring economic benefits if a stop is included in Kingston, which they described as a regional hub for health care, education and business in southeastern Ontario.
“A Kingston station ensures this project delivers real benefits to our region rather than simply passing through our communities without benefit,” Paterson and Vandewal said. “This would drive economic growth, attract investment, strengthen our tourism sector, and improve mobility, benefits shared across Southeastern Ontario.”
The high-speed rail proposal is intended to connect major centres including Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, but routing decisions remain under study.
“Well-planned infrastructure balances national goals with local responsibility,” the mayors said. “Developing high-speed rail along the Highway 401 corridor and adding a Kingston stop achieves those goals: it advances Canada’s transportation future while protecting and respecting rural landscapes and maximizing national economic opportunity.”
