Kingston, Ontario residents are being encouraged to attend a meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to discuss a high-speed rail project that could bypass the city. Local community groups want neighbours to join the meeting to show support for a plan that would only allow the project to move forward if a station is built in the local area.
Mayor Bryan Paterson is introducing a formal proposal that would see the city officially oppose the rail route if a stop is not guaranteed. The project, which is managed by a federal organization called Alto, is part of a plan by the government under Prime Minister Mark Carney to build a transit network costing between $60 billion and $90 billion.
During the meeting, Alto executives Pierre-Yves Boivin and Peter Paz will give a presentation to council members about the proposed route. While the current study area includes nearby towns such as Sydenham, Harrowsmith, and Hartington, Kingston is not currently listed as a stop for the trains, which can reach speeds of 300 kilometres per hour. The neighbouring community of South Frontenac has already voted to oppose the project because of similar concerns.
Organizers have been sharing contact information for former provincial representative Ian Arthur to help residents organize their response. Residents are also being encouraged to contact the current provincial representative, Ted Hsu, and Member of Parliament Mark Gerretsen to ask that the project requirements be changed to include a Kingston station.
