Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
High Speed Rail Concerns
Dear Friends of the Salmon River,
You may have heard that ALTO (the federal agency leading Canada’s high-speed rail initiative) is actively considering a southern route for a new high-speed rail corridor through our region. This proposal has significant implications for the lands, rivers, and communities we care about.
High-speed rail, done well, can be a real environmental benefit, offsetting cars and planes. Look at high-speed trains in Japan and Europe. They benefit from:
- Much shorter distances between urban centres
- Existing, electrified rail systems
- Deep integration with international (high-speed services like Eurostar), intercity, and local networks
Our geography, however, is very different. The southern route raises serious concerns about environmental protection and mitigation for sensitive local lands and watersheds. Municipal opposition is growing: Stone Mills Township has now joined Rideau Lakes and South Frontenac in formally opposing the southern route.See attached poster.
Our best path forward may be to re-evaluate use of the 401 corridor, with upgrades to Medium Speed Rail, to achieve reliable, frequent service at 160 to 200 km/h, together with intercity spur lines.
The only southern route local public consultation is this Wednesday. February 18th. This is your chance to be heard in person:
1. Complete the online survey: https://en.consultation.altotrain.ca/shaping-the-canada-of-tomorrow-with-high-speed-rail/surveys/consultation-questionnaire
2. Provide feedback on the interactive map: https://en.consultation.altotrain.ca/shaping-the-canada-of-tomorrow-with-high-speed-rail/places/interact-map
3. Submit a written brief: https://en.consultation.altotrain.ca/shaping-the-canada-of-tomorrow-with-high-speed-rail/surveys/upload-brief
4. Join the conversations on Facebook in the groups: “Alto train southern route discussion forum” and “Save South Frontenac: No high-speed train in the southern corridor“
This is an important moment. The decisions being made now will shape this landscape for generations.
Friends of the Salmon River
Cheers…
Susan Moore,