Ontario is taking the next step to build a high-speed rail line that will connect Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Toronto. The goal is to improve travel options, reduce travel time and create jobs by getting people moving.
An environmental assessment (EA) is slated to take place in 2015, which includes identifying the most appropriate route, examining state-of-the-art transportation technology options and an environmental impact evaluation.
Mayor Randy Hope told the Sydenham Current he wants to ensure Chatham-Kent is included in the plans.
“It’s very upsetting, since 1997 I’ve been been pushing this issue about high speed rail and when I got the press release, like most people it was surprising to see Chatham-Kent was not included in it,” Hope said.
“The other thing is that they are not keeping in mind is that Chatham-Kent is in a catchment area between London and Windsor and it accommodates those that are coming from Essex area, Lambton area and Middlesex. We’re in a good catchment area for a population to utilize high-speed rail.”
Hope said the goal would be to have a stop along the route in Chatham-Kent.
“I can understand, we’re not stopping in Thamesville, we’re not stopping in Glencoe and all those smaller communities, but this needs to be a priority hub for the high-speed rail,” he said. “Once I got that I fired off an e-mail directly to the Premier’s office about this issue.”
Hope added: “Our priority is for it to be a stop point. It will make it more accommodating to those conducting business here, while still taking advantage of those larger market opportunities. We’ve expressed this time and time again. Now that the announcement is made, we need to be a louder voice on this whole issue.”
Hope said Chatham-Kent needs to get a plan together right away.
“We have to get our economic facts together, which we’ve probably got a lot of it already and we have to start building a business case for why it needs to be here,” he said. “We’ll need businesses and others to support our initiative and to get the ear of the government very quickly.”
The Province said in a press release that high-speed rail service connecting Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Toronto is part of the government’s long-term transit and infrastructure plan, Moving Ontario Forward. This plan will make nearly $29 billion available over the next 10 years for investments in priority infrastructure projects across the province, including public transit, roads, bridges and highways.
“We are moving forward with an environmental assessment process for a high-speed rail line that would connect Windsor, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Toronto,” stated Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation. “The high-speed rail line would improve travel options, reduce travel times and support economic development across the province.”
The Province says the EA will be guided by consultations in early 2015 with municipal and business groups, as well as with First Nation and Métis communities.
