Putting Kingston on the map: how Alto and the feds will decide high-speed rail route

As the federal government advances its plans for a high-speed rail network linking Ontario and Quebec, Kingston finds itself in a familiar position: close enough to matter in planning discussions, but not yet close enough to appear on the official map.

The project is being developed by Alto, a federal Crown corporation created to design, consult on, and advance the country’s first high-speed rail network. Alto is currently in the development and pre-construction phase of the project alongside its private developer partner, Cadence --- a stage expected to last roughly four years --- and has launched public consultations across Ontario and Quebec to gather feedback on route options, station locations, and potential community impacts. On Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, Alto kicked off a three-month-long public consultation process with more than 20 open house information sessions in various communities between Toronto and Quebec City, eight virtual sessions, and a dedicated online information platform.

Martin Imbleau, President & CEO of Alto, said in a release on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, that "public engagement is a cornerstone of the Alto project."

"Through broad consultations with Canadians, including meaningful dialogue with Indigenous communities, we will ensure that every voice is heard in shaping the future of transportation," he said.

"By working collaboratively, we will build a rail network that reflects shared priorities, respects Indigenous rights and knowledge, and delivers lasting benefits for generations to come."

While those consultations invite residents, municipalities, and Indigenous communities to share concerns and preferences, Alto does not hold final authority over where the rail line will run or which communities will receive stations. Those decisions remain with the federal government, specifically the Minister of Transport, who controls Alto’s mandate.

For Kingston, this isn’t just a technical detail --- it makes all the difference.

Despite being located along one of the two proposed route alignments being studied, Kingston is not included in Alto’s currently mandated station list. Any change to that list would require federal approval, regardless of the volume or consistency of feedback received through Alto’s consultation process.

In a written response to Kingstonist on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, Crystal Jongeward, Senior Advisor of Corporate Communications at Alto, confirmed that the corporation's mandate from the Government of Canada is to develop a high-speed rail network with seven stations: Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, Trois-Rivières, and Québec City. Construction, the agency noted, will only begin once final approval is granted by the federal government.

“Input we gather at our public consultation open houses in Ontario and Quebec will help inform the selection of the rail network alignment and station locations,” Jongeward said, adding that feedback will also be used to “minimize impacts, promote inclusivity, and strengthen local benefits.”

The language reflects Alto’s role as a planner and advisor, responsible for gathering data, assessing options, and reporting back to Ottawa --- rather than as a decision maker with authority to expand the project’s scope.

That division of responsibility has fuelled skepticism among some, who question how much influence public consultations can realistically have if the station list is effectively pre-set. Local representatives, however, say the process still matters --- not because Alto can approve a Kingston stop on its own, but because sustained regional pressure can shape federal decision making over time.

In a conversation with Kingstonist on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, Kingston and the Islands' Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Gerretsen said the consultation phase is intended to inform the federal government’s eventual decisions, not replace them.

“At the end of the day, it would be up to the government — the Minister of Transportation — to decide if another stop [or route] should be added,” Gerretsen said. “But that decision is going to be informed by the consultation that Alto is doing.”

Steven MacKinnon is the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. In a release last week, he noted, "The launch of public consultations is an important milestone for the Alto High-Speed Rail project. By engaging Canadians early and by working in partnership with Indigenous communities, we are ensuring this project is shaped by local knowledge, environmental responsibility, and shared priorities. This work will help lay the foundation for a modern transportation network that creates good jobs, supports economic growth, strengthens regional connections, and delivers lasting benefits for communities along the corridor." 

Gerretsen noted Alto is obligated to report back to Ottawa on the feedback it receives, particularly if a clear preference emerges around a specific route or station.

“If Alto gets a lot of feedback that says, ‘We like the southern route because of Kingston, and we need to stop in Kingston,’ then Alto is responsible for feeding that information back to the government,” he said. “The government could then say, ‘Okay, we’re going to amend your mandate.’”

However, Gerretsen cautioned that the process is still in its early stages and that advocating for specific outcomes before the consultation period concludes risks moving beyond the project’s current scope.

“At this point, Alto is looking for feedback,” he said. “If enough feedback comes from our area saying, ‘We need the southern route, and we need to stop in Kingston,’ then they’re going to have to address that feedback one way or the other.”

That framing positions public consultation not as a direct vote on station placement, but as part of a longer chain of influence — one that relies on sustained engagement, political advocacy, and, eventually, the federal willingness to revisit the project’s parameters.

The stakes are high for Kingston and the area. Gerretsen stated that a high-speed rail stop could significantly alter regional connectivity, economic development, and commuting patterns, while a route that bypasses the city would raise questions about long-term equity and infrastructure investment in eastern Ontario.

In a brief conversation with Kingstonist on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ric Bresee, who represents Hastings–Lennox & Addington, seemed to agree with Gerretsen about the potential benefits in our part of the province. As Parliamentary Assistant to the provincial Minister of Transportation, Bresee supports provincial transportation initiatives and advocates for local and rural infrastructure projects, helping coordinate programs and represent community priorities to Queen’s Park. 

“We are certainly paying attention to that [consultation], and we are having a lot of conversations with some of the larger municipalities across Ontario --- London, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Kingston, Cornwall --- about what that network needs to look like long term. We recognize the huge value of having a high-frequency, high-speed rail system. It is a great growth element for us, and we need to flesh out some of those details,” Bresee said.

At the same time, concerns have been raised about the potential impacts of the proposed northern alignment, which would pass through parts of Frontenac County. Residents have expressed worries about environmental disruption and the use of previously untouched green space, including areas near Frontenac Provincial Park.

Gerretsen acknowledged those concerns and said they underscore the importance of participating in the consultation process.

“That feedback is really important to be fed into the Alto consultation process,” he said. “A route that comes closer to Kingston is certainly going to be a route that has more density involved and more challenges like this.”

He added that, regardless of the alignment selected, Alto will be required to address environmental and land-use concerns. 

“I believe Alto is going to run into these complications regardless of the exact route they take. It’s up to them to mitigate that as much as possible during the process,” said Gerretsen.

Public consultation tools and opportunities

Alto’s public consultation, running from January through March 2026, is structured to allow multiple points of participation. Residents can attend in-person open houses, join virtual information sessions, or use the online portal to review interactive maps, submit surveys, or leave comments.

The consultation is not limited to feedback on route or station preferences. Residents are invited to weigh in on environmental considerations, land-use impacts, and the community benefits or challenges associated with high-speed rail. A second consultation phase is expected later, after Alto identifies a preferred alignment, offering communities a further opportunity to shape the project.

Gerretsen emphasized that this multi-channel approach increases the likelihood that Kingston-area concerns will be formally documented and relayed to Ottawa.

“This is the point where feedback actually matters,” he said.

Municipal response and next steps

Gerretsen emphasized that Kingston city officials want residents to participate directly in Alto’s consultation rather than rely on municipal submissions. Tourism Kingston noted in a January 19 release that it is advocating with provincial and federal partners for Kingston as a stop, or at least a nearby stop, highlighting the benefits of rail access for business, tourism, events, workforce mobility, and regional growth. 

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey --- especially Question 9, where general feedback can be entered  --- and to comment on the map and write letters of support explaining why a stop near Kingston is essential and how it would help their organization or community. 

In addition, Gerretsen noted, a town hall is being considered for March to allow residents to ask questions and provide feedback in a more structured setting.

The MP also stressed that, while consultation does not guarantee a stop, Kingston’s input is essential for keeping the southern route on the radar. Political advocacy and organized public feedback remain the only pathways to influence federal decisions in the current framework.

While Kingston’s role in the high-speed rail project is not yet set in stone, Gerretsen explained that the consultation period presents a narrow but meaningful opportunity to influence Ottawa’s thinking. Residents and municipal leaders alike face a delicate balancing act: providing informed, specific feedback that could tip the scales, while recognizing that ultimate control rests hundreds of kilometres away in Ottawa.