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People living near Ottawa\u2019s 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
\u201cI might lose my house, which I don\u2019t want,\u201d said Tyson Cook, whose home already backs onto railway tracks. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust put money in Via instead of getting an Alto train.\u201d <\/p>\n
Curtis Barr is also opposed to the project and says he would refuse Alto access to his property. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnything to impede their success on this, I’m willing to do,\u201d he said. \u201cI 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
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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\u2019s 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
\u201cMostly [it’s] just general anxiety about not knowing what is happening and what will be the impact of their neighborhood and to their homes,\u201d 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