Early planning needed to manage high-speed rail environmental impact, researchers say
Environmental scientists at Carleton University in Ottawa are urging planners of the proposed $60-to-$90-billion Toronto to Quebec City high speed rail project to consider ecological impacts before selecting a final route.
In an open letter released Feb. 24, nine ecologists and conservation scientists say the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail project carries both environmental benefits and risks, and warn that mitigation planning must begin early if the project is to deliver a net environmental benefit.
“As a group of ecologists and conservation scientists based at Carleton University in eastern Ontario, we felt it important to provide an environmental perspective,” the researchers wrote.
The scientists acknowledge electrified rail could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by shifting travellers away from cars and short haul flights between major cities such as Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Reduced road traffic could also lower wildlife mortality caused by vehicle collisions.
But the group warns large rail infrastructure could significantly disrupt ecosystems if environmental considerations are delayed until after route decisions are made.
Steven J. Cooke, a professor of environmental science and biology at Carleton University and director of the Canadian Centre for Evidence-Informed Conservation, said the pace of the project has raised concerns among scientists.
“This whole process is moving incredibly quickly and the proponents have failed to provide evidence that they have a plan to mitigate any harms,” Cooke told Hometown News in an email.
One of the primary concerns outlined in the letter is habitat loss. Scientists note that the proposed routes between Ottawa and Peterborough could extend at least 270 kilometres and require a right of way up to 100 metres wide.
That footprint could remove roughly 27 square kilometres of habitat, including forests, wetlands and aquatic systems that support wildlife populations.
“Habitat is the foundation for healthy and productive populations of fish and wildlife,” Cooke said.
Researchers also warn the project could disrupt ecological and hydrological connectivity in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, a region that connects wildlife corridors between Algonquin Park in Ontario and the Adirondack Mountains in the United States.
The Frontenac Arch has been designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve and is widely recognized as one of the most important ecological corridors in eastern North America.
Construction activities also raise concerns for lakes and rivers across eastern Ontario, particularly during earthworks and aggregate extraction.
Cooke said sediment entering waterways during construction can have long lasting impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
“Sediment smothers fish habitat. Once it is in a system, it is very difficult to remove,” he said.
The scientists argue that understanding potential ecological impacts and mitigation strategies should occur before routes are finalized.
“Understanding potential threats and mitigations of potential routes is essential to route selection,” the letter states.
Among the options suggested by the researchers is using existing transportation corridors, such as established rail lines or highway rights of way, to minimize environmental disruption.
Cooke said alternative approaches could reduce both financial and ecological costs.
“I would like to see the whole process take a step back and explore the pairing of existing lines or use of medians along our 400 series highways,” he said.
According to information published on the Alto project website, environmental studies and consultations are currently underway as part of the project’s development phase.
Project materials state the proposed rail network would undergo federal impact assessments examining environmental, social and economic effects before construction proceeds.
Alto materials also indicate field studies are being conducted to establish baseline environmental conditions, including monitoring wildlife, water conditions and other ecological factors along potential corridors.
Hometown News contacted Alto for comment regarding concerns raised by the Carleton researchers.
Crystal Jogenward, senior advisor for corporate communications with Alto, said in an email March 9 that a final route selection for the proposed high-speed rail corridor is expected later this year.
“We must first make the route selection, which will take place later this year,” Jogenward said. “Once the route selection has been made, we will be able to focus on mitigation strategies that might be required on a community-by-community basis.”
Jogenward said planners are examining options within the broader study corridor and will favour alignments that follow existing infrastructure where possible, including railway lines, highways and hydro corridors.
“We’re considering all options within the corridor under study and will favour existing corridors like railway tracks, highways or hydro lines,” she said.
She added that field studies conducted between 2020 and 2025 have informed early planning and identified environmentally sensitive areas, including the Frontenac Arch region in eastern Ontario.
The project will be subject to the federal Impact Assessment Act, which requires detailed environmental studies and a formal review process before construction could proceed.
Jogenward said additional information will be released as the project advances, although no timeline has been provided for when environmental study results will be made public.
Keep connected to the communities that matter most to you—Read the latest Lanark County news.
