South Frontenac and Kingston High Speed Rail Joint Position

Kingston Mayor Bryan Patterson, and South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal have taken a combine position supporting a passenger rail corridor with a stop in Kingston, a position that has now been supported by Ontario Premier Doug Ford as well;.

“Our communities share more than a border; we are integrated through health care, schools, parks, workplaces, businesses, farms, environmental recreation, and more. Decisions about major infrastructure will shape our region for generations, and that’s why we are coming together with one message on the Alto rail project,” said a joint statement, after Vandewal and Patterson appeared at an event with Save South Frontenac Founders Doug Boulton and Katie Koopman last week.

"If the federal government is going ahead with this $60-90 billion project, it must be realistic and focused on minimizing impacts to property owners, agricultural lands, natural heritage systems, and rural communities. This is not just about infrastructure. It is about people, common sense, sustainability, and protecting what makes our region unique,” the statement went on to say.

The statement urges the Federal government to listen to the public feedback on the current Alto Rail proposal, use the 401 corridor, and ensure there is a stop in Kingston.

“Well-planned infrastructure balances national goals with local responsibility. Developing high-speed rail along the Highway 401 corridor and adding a Kingston stop achieves those goals: it advances Canada’s transportation future while protecting and respecting rural landscapes and maximizing national economic opportunity.”

The statement is consistent with motions passed in rural eastern Ontario municipalities that fall within the two 10km wide corridors, the so-called southern and northern routes, that are included in the proposed Alto route.

“We support innovation and modern transportation, in a way that protects the environment, prioritizes communities, and delivers real economic benefits. Together, we are calling on the federal government to consider an alternative to the proposed southern route by aligning with the 401 corridor and adding a stop in Kingston,” the statement concludes.

The public consultation period for the Alto corridor selection process ahs been extended until April 24, from the initial end date of March 29.

The South Frontenac, Kingston position does not fall within the mandate of Alto, a Crown Corporation set up to complete all the prep work for a 7 stop high speed train, with only three stops in Ontario: Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto.