KAWARTHA LAKES-City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Doug Elmslie and the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) has passed a resolution opposing the Alto high-speed rail project in its current form.
The EOWC is comprised of 13 member municipalities across rural eastern Ontario:
- County of Frontenac
- County of Haliburton
- County of Hastings
- City of Kawartha Lakes
- County of Lanark
- United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
- County of Lennox and Addington
- County of Northumberland
- County of Peterborough
- United Counties of Prescott and Russell
- County of Prince Edward
- County of Renfrew
- United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
ALTO is advancing plans for a high-speed passenger rail project between the Quebec City-Toronto corridor, cutting through eastern Ontario.
At this time there is currently only one proposed stop across the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus’ (EOWC) 50,000 square kilometre region which will benefit urban residents at the cost of rural residents and lands according to EOWC. That stop is in Peterborough.
The resolution also claims portions of the proposed project will traverse and impact eastern Ontario communities, infrastructure, residential and agricultural lands, municipal trails, and environmentally sensitive areas, and with no long-term economic benefits; and the closure and/or dead-ending of roads will have significant ongoing and unknown costs to municipalities, as well as service delivery and emergency response implications to residents and businesses.
Officials say Ontario municipalities and residents have not received sufficient detailed information regarding potential local impacts, including land use, environmental effects, municipal infrastructure interfaces, and long-term financial or operational implications.
The EOWC is calling for:
Detailed information about the project and its proposed routes
Clearer understanding of local, environmental, and infrastructure impacts
Meaningful engagement with municipalities, residents, First Nations, businesses, and regional partners
That ALTO explore train route options along existing infrastructure corridors
“Eastern Ontario’s communities are committed to constructive partnership. Our goal is to ensure that any future rail solution strengthens, rather than divides, the social, economic, agricultural, and environmental fabric of our region.” said the group.
