Local Mayors Unite for High-Speed Rail Support

The Crown corporation behind Canada’s proposed high-speed rail project has received a lot of resistance from residents throughout eastern Ontario, but two towns are joining forces to say “yes” – with some conditions.

Mayors of Kingston and the Township of South Frontenac met on Monday to express their support for a plan that would have the Alto rail line run along the Highway 401 corridor, stop in Kingston, and then continue on to Quebec City.

“There’s a lot of opposition to both the northern and southern corridor, so we’re urging Alto, rather than just pushing through that opposition.. [to] listen to the feedback [and] listen to the voices that they’re hearing,” Kington Mayor Bryan Paterson said.

“In this case,” Paterson added, “you’re getting a very strong ‘yes’ with a couple of key conditions that are technically feasible and make a lot of sense from a business and economics perspective.”

Alto has suggested two routes. One is basically a straight line between Peterborough and Ottawa. The second is a southern route that comes within half an hour’s drive from downtown Kingston.

Paterson and Ron Vandewal, mayor of South Frontenac, are supporting an alternative third route: one that goes even further than the proposed southern path.

Their announcement on Monday was made in front of posters proclaiming “Next stop, Kingston!”

However, no station has been proposed for the city yet. During last month’s meeting, Kingston city council was informed it’s not included in the seven stops listed by the federal government.

At that same meeting, Alto informed councillors that while it will attempt to follow existing corridors such as Highway 401 where possible, the “curve radius” of a highway is around one kilometre.

This poses an issue because a train traveling up to 300 km/h needs about seven kilometres to turn; therefore even if tracks tried to align with highway routes, trains would have to stray outside those corridors anyway. Existing overpasses and on-ramps could create more challenges.

The southern route has raised concerns across the region since farmers and other landowners fear being cut off by the three-metre fence planned along the route.

This area also falls within the Frontenac Arch, which is recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve; this has heightened worries regarding environmental impacts and wildlife protection.

An urban-rural collaboration

Members of Save South Frontenac, a grassroots group advocating for local residents’ interests, joined forces with the mayors on Monday.

“This is a powerful allyship; having urban support behind rural residents,” said Katie Koopman speaking on behalf of their organization.

“This is home. This is habitat. This area fights climate change,” she stated regarding where they propose placing the southern route. “We’re hoping this joint stance will move things forward and inspire other urban areas along this corridor.”

Sun shines through trees on property in South Frontenac, Ont., situated along Alto’s proposed southern route. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

Councillors from both Kingston and South Frontenac had previously voted in separate motions expressing their disapproval towards Alto and federal officials unless any plans include stopping all trains in Kingston.

Vandewal mentioned how his community’s landscape forms part of its identity as well as livelihoods for its people.

Highway 401 already serves as an existing barrier cutting through farmlands; he noted there’s no point in doing it again when discussing concerns during Monday’s meeting.

“It’ll be devastation for generations if it goes through South Frontenac,” Vandewal expressed firmly. “We don’t want it.”

Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson believes it’s obvious that high-speed rail should stop in his city. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

Paterson stated he’d leave questions about how closely trains could follow Highway 410 up to Alto but mentioned he’s spoken with transportation experts who believe it’s achievable.

“It’s clear-cut that lines should go through Kingston,” he remarked.

“It’s not too late to finalize these details correctly-this represents an incredibly important moment-a generational investment-we need this done right.”.....

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