Lanark County council has received a clearer picture of the Alto High-Speed Rail Project, a major federal initiative that promises faster travel across Ontario and Quebec. Alexis Doyle, Manager of Community Relations-Ontario, presented the update during last month’s economic development committee meeting.
Doyle said Alto is a federal Crown corporation responsible for building a 1,000-kilometre electrified rail corridor with trains reaching at least 300 km/h. Led by Cadence, a consortium of Canadian and international partners, the project aims to reduce travel times by half between key cities including Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Montreal, Ottawa, Peterborough and Toronto. Up to 30 daily departures are planned.
Doyle noted economic growth has stalled in the travel corridor due to rising costs, capacity issues and disconnected communities. She said the project is expected to boost productivity, increase tourism, strengthen internal trade and broaden access to jobs.
The development phase is now underway and will take about four years. Councillors raised concerns about impacts on farmers, small communities, rural station access and the environment as community consultations ramp up.
