Alto will be flying drones in Ottawa’s east end this weekend as part of its study for a potential high-speed rail line between Ottawa and Montreal. The Crown corporation is working with Cadence to conduct drone surveys in several communities as part of the planning and environmental assessment within the corridor. Orléans South-Navan Coun. Catherine Kitts said Alto has informed her office that it will be conducting drone field studies this week in the area south of Mer Bleue Bog, near Russell Road, Ramsayville Road, and near Highway 417. “According to ALTO and its project partner, Cadence, the drone surveys will collect information on terrain, drainage, watercourses, erosion, wildlife habitat, and other environmental features,” Kitts said. “This information will help support environmental assessments, hydrological modelling, and future project planning while reducing the need for more intrusive ground-based field work.” Kitts said Alto advised her office the drone will operate “at an appropriate altitude, image recording will only begin once it reaches the designated survey area, and images will be blurred or pixelated where necessary to protect privacy.” “Survey data will also be stored in a secure environment with restricted access.” Alto has been tasked by the federal government to study and build a high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City, which stops in stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, and Trois-Rivieres. The first phase of the project will be built between Ottawa and Montreal. In May, Alto said it would be conducting drone surveys in several communities in eastern Ontario and western Quebec until the end of the year within the City of Ottawa, the townships of East Hawkesbury and North Glengarry, and the Nation Municipality. In Quebec, the surveys will be conducted in Boisbriand, Mirabel, Saint‑André‑d’Argenteuil, Pointe‑Fortune, and Rigaud. The Crown corporation will ask property owners in eastern Ontario for permission to enter their property to collect environmental data to support the impact assessment process. There has been opposition to the Alto high-speed rail plan from residents and politicians. The United Counties of Prescott-Russell council passed a resolution last month to refuse to grant Alto access to county land for the studies and decline to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Alto. The City of Ottawa signed a non-disclosure agreement with Alto in December. Staff said it was to “gain access to detailed mapping and route planning under consideration.”
