We, the undersigned, are calling for an immediate pause to the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail project in the Eastern Corridor.

We support effective, sustainable transportation solutions. However, the current Alto proposal raises serious concerns that have not been adequately addressed and place an unfair burden on rural and regional communities.

Key concerns include:

1. Failure to use existing infrastructure
An established rail corridor already exists and is currently operated by VIA Rail (Alto). Rather than improving or optimizing existing infrastructure, this project proposes major new construction without demonstrating why upgrades to current services are insufficient.

2. Environmental and agricultural impacts
The proposed route threatens farmland, generational farms, and family-owned businesses. These lands are irreplaceable, and the long-term environmental and economic impacts have not been fully or transparently assessed.

3. No meaningful benefit to our communities
Residents in the Eastern Corridor will not have access to the service. Communities bear the environmental, financial, and land-use costs without receiving transportation benefits in return.

4. No clear cost or affordability plan
There is currently no clear estimate of ticket pricing. Without knowing whether fares will be affordable, the project risks becoming inaccessible to most residents while still requiring public funding.

5. Lack of ridership data and weak business case
There is little evidence that sufficient demand exists to justify this investment. Ridership projections and demand analysis have not been clearly presented, raising concerns that the project is being advanced without a viable business case.

6. Rushed approval without due diligence
The project is being pushed forward before critical studies, consultations, and financial analyses have been completed. Major infrastructure decisions should not be made without doing the necessary work.

7. Heavy public subsidies with double cost to communities
The Alto project will be heavily subsidized, meaning taxpayers will pay twice—once through public funding and again through indirect community and environmental impacts.

8. Questionable “test” corridor selection (Ottawa–Montreal)
Launching the project as a test line between Ottawa and Montreal is risky. Public trust in transit is already low due to ongoing issues with Ottawa’s LRT and OC Transpo operations.

Additionally, the proposed service reduces travel time by approximately one hour and does not offer true door-to-door convenience compared to driving.

9. A better testing alternative exists
If this project is to be tested, it should be done in a corridor where transit use is already high and demand is proven rather than imposing risk on communities that receive no benefit.

We are asking governments and project leaders to:

Pause the Alto High-Speed Rail project in the Eastern Corridor

Complete full environmental, agricultural, and economic impact studies

Release transparent cost, fare, and ridership data

Conduct meaningful public consultation with affected communities

Prioritize improvements to existing rail and transit infrastructure

Responsible infrastructure requires evidence, transparency, and public trust.

This project does not yet meet those standards.