Alto to begin environmental assessments on private properties for proposed high-speed rail line

The Alto high-speed train would travel at 300km/h and go from Toronto to Montreal in three hours – just over half the time it takes to drive. (Alto)

Alto will be asking property owners for permission to enter their property this spring, including the City of Ottawa, as part of the environmental assessment for the first phase of high-speed rail between Ottawa and Montreal.

The Crown corporation tasked with building high-speed rail between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City is launching the “next stage of the field studies program,” to look at environmental data along the proposed corridor.

Preliminary work conducted so far between Ottawa and Montreal has focused on public lands and existing rail corridors.

“This environmental data collection is necessary to deepen our understanding of local conditions, to support the impact assessment process, and to guide planning, engineering and environmental analyses,” Alto said in a statement.

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Alto said sites identified for field studies represent rural, urban and suburban environments, and do not indicate the final route for the high-speed rail line.

“Field studies may include wildlife and flora observations, soil sampling, sound-level measurements, and the analysis of waterways and wetlands,” Alto said.

“These activities, which are designed to be as non-invasive as possible, are carried out by qualified professionals using recognized methodologies and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.”

Alto says as it broadens field study work within the corridors, it will now look to conduct environmental assessments on “certain private properties.” Some property owners within the corridor will be conducted to seek permission to enter (PTE) their property.

“Participation is voluntary and participants will receive financial compensation. No field studies will be conducted on private properties without consent from their owners,” Alto said.

“Receiving a PTE request does not necessarily mean that a property will need to be acquired for the project or that the future train will run near it, as the alignment has not yet been determined.”

Alto says property owners will receive a “comprehensive information package” and “efficient communications” by Alto staff throughout the process.

The proposed high-speed rail line will have seven stops between Toronto and Quebec City, with stops in Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval and Trois-Rivières. The proposed plan has faced opposition from politicians, rural property owners and the public, with some property owners raising concerns about the proposed route.

“The environment is at the heart of every decision we make, reflecting our commitment to minimizing impacts on communities along the corridor,” Anne-Marie Gaudet, vice-president of environment with Alto, said in a statement.

“To gain a comprehensive understanding of the territory, our teams will need to access a variety of public and private sites scientifically selected to showcase the corridor’s unique characteristics and diversity. These studies will enable us to make responsible, evidence-based decisions in order to protect both the ecosystems and the people living near the corridor.”

The initial study carried out between Ottawa and Montreal looked at wildlife and wildlife habitats, vegetation and terrestrial ecosystems, including plant species at risk, water and wetlands, soil conditions, noise and vibration and “human environment.”

City of Ottawa

The City of Ottawa says it does not know which landowners will be approached or any information on specific locations for the field investigations.

“What we do know is that the field surveys are planned to start in the spring and continue throughout the year to collect seasonal information,” said Marcia Wallace, general manager of the Planning, Development and Building Services Department.

“Alto will require access to both public and private lands to undertake this work. They will reach out to identified landowners to formally seek PTE. The City of Ottawa as a landowner in the study area is also expected to be asked for access to specific sites.”

Wallace said Alto has indicated it aims to have the “preliminary preferred rail alignment and station location” in Ottawa by the end of the year.

“City staff continue to wait for more details about the preferred route between Montreal and Ottawa, and any information that will be used to inform their decision,” Wallace said.

Alto is hosting a public open house in Gatineau on Tuesday at La maison du Citoyen on Laurier Street.

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