Public consultation on the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail Project is being extended by nearly a month as interest in the project continues to grow.
The Crown corporation behind the planned rail network between Québec City and Toronto announced Wednesday that the online consultation period will now run until April 24. The consultation originally launched January 15 and had been scheduled to wrap up March 29.
Officials say the extension comes in response to a high level of public participation and ongoing interest from communities along the proposed corridor.
Area open houses hosted by ALTO have drawn substantial numbers of residents looking for answers on the proposed high-speed rail project and how it will affect their properties.
In Perth, for example, over 1,000 people showed up for the two sessions held on March 4th.
Pierre-Yves Boivin, Alto’s chief officer of communications and public affairs, says the consultation process is an important opportunity for dialogue with residents and communities potentially affected by the project.
Boivin says public questions and feedback help inform Alto’s analysis and allow planners to better integrate the high-speed rail proposal into local communities.
Residents can review project information, explore the proposed study corridor map, complete an online questionnaire, and submit comments or written briefs through Alto’s public consultation website at altotrain.ca/en/public-consultation.
Story by Brian Turner