Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson and South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal joined local advocates in Ontario on March 9, 2026, to demand changes to a proposed federal high-speed rail line.
The mayors and the group Save South Frontenac are formally opposing the current plan for the Alto rail project. They worry the proposed “southern route” would destroy local farmland and damage protected green spaces, including the UNESCO Frontenac Arch Biosphere.
Instead of the current route, local leaders are asking the federal government to move the train tracks so they run along the Highway 401 corridor. They are also calling for a passenger train station to be built in Kingston so that residents can use the new service.
According to the mayors, the current federal plan could result in the government taking land from private owners and leaving some farm fields cut off from access. They argue that moving the path to the highway would protect these properties and the local environment.
The Alto project is being managed by the Cadence Consortium to connect Toronto and Quebec City. Local officials say that without a local stop, the train would simply pass through the area without providing any economic benefits to the community.
