Alto is looking at including a stop in Kingston, Ont. on the proposed high-speed rail line between Ottawa and Toronto, with the Crown corporation saying it could “significantly expand access” to the line in eastern Ontario. The federal government asked Alto to assess a route that could include Kingston in June following the first round of public consultations on the high-speed rail line. The Alto high-speed rail line is proposed to run between Toronto and Quebec City, with stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval, and Trois-Rivieres. Alto is looking at two potential routes connecting Toronto and Ottawa, with a southern route and a northern route between Peterborough and Ottawa. The proposed southern route would travel just north of Belleville, Kingston and Brockville. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Alto said it is “currently analyzing the possibility of a Kingston station,” including the technical environmental, social and financial considerations. “Kingston emerged as a clear priority through the consultation process, reflecting its potential to serve as a regional transportation hub for eastern Ontario,” a spokesperson for Alto said. “A potential Kingston station could strengthen connections with existing transportation networks and improve access to Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal. It could also significantly expand access to high-speed rail, with nearly 80 per cent of residents living between Peterborough and Ottawa located within 25 minutes of a station, maximizing the project’s regional benefits.” The 134-page “What We Heard” report released by Alto last month said many Kingston residents expressed a desire to have a high-speed rail stop in the city. Some people noted that Kingston’s VIA Rail station is the fourth-busiest station in the corridor. In February, council in Kingston voted in favour of a motion to express support for a southern route built along Highway 401 around the South Frontenac and the Kingston region, with a stop in Kingston. On Thursday, Transport Action Canada signalled its support for a potential stop in Kingston along the Alto route but raised concerns. The national public transportation advocacy organization said its primary concern for any high-speed rail stop in Kingston should be its “close integration” with the current VIA Rail service in the city. “The project would significantly harm if a stop were built in the currently proposed ‘southern alignment’ which is about a 25-30 minute drive north of Kingston,” the group said. “Additionally, the advocacy group says that, without better regulation and attention paid to the on-time performance of existing VIA rail services, communities along Lake Ontario will continue to feel left out of the project.” Transport Action Canada says it also told the federal government that downtown stations are “crucial to the success” of any high-speed rail project and should be “guaranteed for the Alto project.” The first section of the Alto line to be built will be the Ottawa-Montreal corridor. With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Ted Raymond
