Alto: What we heard and what comes next
Alto has published two What We Heard reportscapturing feedback from thousands of participants across public and Indigenous consultations for Canada’s high-speed rail project.
This input is already helping shape the next stages of planning, from corridor refinement to potential route analysis and station planning and will continue to guide decisions as the project moves forward.
The reports highlight key themes, questions and ideas expressed by the general public, civic society stakeholders and Indigenous communities. Topics included community and environmental impacts, property and agricultural considerations, station locations, local benefits, and future travel needs.
Consultations with Indigenous communities, ongoing since October 2025, also reflect perspectives on land, cultural heritage, environmental protection and meaningful participation as the project advances.
By the numbers:
26 open houses |10,000 + attendees
31 roundtable discussions
10 virtual sessions
324,000 + visits to the online platform
Nearly 20,000 comments received
Following the review of the findings, the Minister of Transport directed Alto to develop a plan to assess a southern route option between Peterborough and Ottawa that includes a potential stop in Kingston that would interconnect with VIA Rail services, subject to technical feasibility and project requirements.
While the consultation with Indigenous communities is ongoing, another phase of consultation will take place this fall as part as continued efforts to continue the conversation with Canadians, based on a narrower corridor for the central segment (Ottawa-Montréal). Consultation will follow subsequently for the western and eastern segments.
For more on how the project advancing through a step-by-step planning process, read our latest blog