At the February 17 Council Meeting, I brought forward a motion to ask council to support advocating for an Alto high-speed rail stop in Kingston. Now what does this mean?
Kingston is home to major institutions like St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, the Royal Military College of Canada, CFB Kingston, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, and a growing business community that serves people across Eastern Ontario.
We are a regional hub – not just for Kingston but the surrounding rural communities who rely on healthcare, education, connectivity, employment and more. That’s why Kingston high-speed rail matters here.
High-speed rail is about more than speed. A Kingston stop would strengthen the regional economy, improve access to health care and education, support tourism and investment, reduce emissions and congestion, and improve access to critical services.
But let me be clear. If Alto doesn’t stop in Kingston, there is no point in the southern route – no benefit to our community or the region. Bypassing the region’s largest urban hub undermines the purpose of high-speed rail.
Kingston and eastern Ontario deserve meaningful connectivity. Kingston is ready to be a partner. Ready to integrate transit, support smart land-use planning, and maximize the benefits of a station close to our urban core.
If Alto is going to reshape Canada’s future through high-speed rail, it must include Kingston. To make your voice heard, go online to AltoTrain.ca to fill in the survey, comment on the proposed route, and submit a letter of support.