Centre Hastings is taking steps to be part of a proposed high-speed rail line between Peterborough and Ottawa.
The Alto project is a joint initiative between the federal and provincial governments and proposes an electrified passenger rail corridor connecting Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec City.
The municipality is looking to have a station in Madoc, something Mayor Tom Deline says would improve regional and rural access to national transportation infrastructure and support economic development and tourism across eastern Ontario.
“This is the right time for communities to engage. Council has endorsed advocacy to ensure the Madoc area near the junction of Highways 7 and 62 is formally considered as a future station location if the project expands beyond its initial phase.”
Deline explains Madoc’s unique location makes it the only point between Peterborough and Ottawa with full east–west and north–south provincial highway access.
“We’re not really saying we’re for or against it. We’re saying okay, if the federal government is going to do this and ALTO is going to do this, let’s make sure we have our say.”
Council’s position is that a future station at Madoc would encourage a shift from long-distance automobile travel to low-emission rail, while also providing a practical and cost-effective site for future expansion due to the availability of land and fewer development constraints.
“This is about making sure the door stays open for our region if Alto evolves, not about demanding immediate changes to a major national project,” adds Deline.
The municipality will forward a formal resolution to the federal and provincial ministers of transportation, Alto project representatives, and regional stakeholders in the near future. Current plans do not include a station in Madoc.
“This positioning allows a future station to serve a broad regional catchment, including Hastings County communities, the Belleville–Quinte region, Prince Edward County, and northern Ontario communities such as Bancroft,” Deline says.
