Mayor’s Statement on the Alto High Speed Rail Project

The Township of Asphodel-Norwood recognizes that the proposed Alto High Speed Rail project has raised important questions and concerns for residents.

Further, the Township understands that Alto, a federal Crown corporation, is currently evaluating two potential rail corridors as part of the proposed high-speed rail route between Quebec City and Toronto – a northern corridor and a southern corridor. At this time, no final route has been selected or approved, and the project remains in the federal planning and public consultation phase.

View the proposed rail corridor map.

While this is a Government of Canada initiative, members of Council have attended local consultation sessions and will continue to attend whenever possible to gather information, ask questions, and better understand the potential impacts on the Township. Alto is currently hosting a range of engagement opportunities, including in-person open houses, virtual meetings, and online consultations.

Participate in Alto’s public consultation.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the consultation process by reviewing the interactive project map and submitting comments or location-based feedback. Input from residents will help inform the federal decision-making process.

Explore the interactive map and submit comments.

Council has also received a delegation from Alto’s Senior Advisor of Community Relations, and residents can access the related agenda materials and meeting recording through the Township’s Council meeting calendar. In addition, both the Township’s CAO and Mayor have been in direct communication with the Alto representative and are working to secure a further meeting, pending availability.

To ensure transparency and ongoing discussion, Council has committed to keeping the Alto High Speed Rail project as a standing item on every Council meeting agenda while the public consultation period remains open, which is currently scheduled to conclude on March 29, 2026.

Please be assured that Council hears the concerns being raised and remains committed to staying informed and gathering accurate information, and will consider next steps as the public consultation period concludes.

- Mayor Wilford, Township of Asphodel-Norwood