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<\/p>\nPeople living near Ottawa’s Via Rail station on Tremblay Road are raising concerns after representatives from Alto began approaching the neighbourhood’s residents last week.<\/p>\n
The crown corporation confirmed its representatives have been going door-to-door near the station, including along O and P avenues in Eastway Gardens, seeking permission to access private properties to carry out field studies.<\/p>\n
For some residents, Alto’s presence has them worried about what the project could mean for the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
“I might lose my house, which I don’t want,” said Tyson Cook, whose home already backs onto railway tracks.<\/p>\n
“Just put money in Via instead of getting an Alto train.”<\/p>\n
Curtis Barr is also opposed to the project and says he would refuse Alto access to his property.<\/p>\n
“Anything to impede their success on this, I’m willing to do,” he said. “I think this is a well-established neighborhood with a lot of families that would be affected.”<\/p>\n
In a statement, Alto said its studies do not necessarily confirm any future route or station location.<\/p>\n
Alto said the location for Ottawa’s station will be announced later this fall, alongside a more precise route for the Ottawa-Montreal corridor.<\/p>\n
The final route is not expected to be announced until 2027.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An archive image of Via Rail tracks running behind Ottawa’s Eastway Gardens neighbourhood. (Judy Trinh\/CBC Ottawa)<\/p>\n
Councillor says residents need answers<\/p>\n
Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr says she wasn’t informed Alto representatives would be approaching residents, even though she had previously received updates about its drone surveys.<\/p>\n
Carr said she’s long suspected the Via station would be selected as Ottawa’s high-speed rail stop, pointing to the available land nearby, the easy access to Highway 417 and issues that might arise from a downtown stop.<\/p>\n
She says residents feel uncertain.<\/p>\n
“Mostly [it’s] just general anxiety about not knowing what is happening and what will be the impact of their neighborhood and to their homes,” Carr said.<\/p>\n
She said residents are aware of Bill C-15, federal legislation addressing the expropriation of land for high-speed rail<\/a>, and want to know if their properties could be affected.<\/p>\n