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Alto high-speed rail An image of the planned high-speed rail corridor. (Alto) <\/p>\nAlto will be asking property owners for permission to enter their property this spring, including the City of Ottawa, as part of the environmental assessment for the first phase of high-speed rail between Ottawa and Montreal.<\/p>\n
The Crown corporation tasked with building high-speed rail between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City is launching the \u201cnext stage of the field studies program,\u201d to look at environmental data along the proposed corridor.<\/p>\n
Preliminary work conducted so far between Ottawa and Montreal has focused on public lands and existing rail corridors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis environmental data collection is necessary to deepen our understanding of local conditions, to support the impact assessment process, and to guide planning, engineering and environmental analyses,\u201d Alto said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Alto said sites identified for field studies represent rural, urban and suburban environments, and do not indicate the final route for the high-speed rail line.<\/p>\n
\u201cField studies may include wildlife and flora observations, soil sampling, sound-level measurements, and the analysis of waterways and wetlands,\u201d Alto said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese activities, which are designed to be as non-invasive as possible, are carried out by qualified professionals using recognized methodologies and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alto high-speed rail An image of the planned high-speed rail corridor. (Alto) <\/p>\n
Alto says as it broadens field study work within the corridors, it will now look to conduct environmental assessments on \u201ccertain private properties.\u201d Some property owners within the corridor will be conducted to seek permission to enter (PTE) their property.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticipation is voluntary and participants will receive financial compensation. No field studies will be conducted on private properties without consent from their owners,\u201d Alto said.<\/p>\n
\u201cReceiving a PTE request does not necessarily mean that a property will need to be acquired for the project or that the future train will run near it, as the alignment has not yet been determined.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alto says property owners will receive a \u201ccomprehensive information package\u201d and \u201cefficient communications\u201d by Alto staff throughout the process.<\/p>\n