Municipalities, groups form coalition with shared message on high-speed rail project 

Kingston, South Frontenac and Save South Frontenac want the feds to have the rail line along the 401 corridor and a stop in Kingston.

There is a coalition being formed to entice Alto to put their focus on Kingston and away from rural areas. 

Mayor Bryan Paterson along with South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal announced on Monday that the two municipalities are joining forces in an effort to convince the federal government to build the proposed high-speed rail line along the 401 corridor and have a stop in Kingston. 

Both have stated that there would be no support for high-speed rail if there is no stop in Kingston. 

Paterson says he and Vandewal share the same idea that there would be no benefit, whether it is economic or otherwise, if the train simply bypasses the city. 

Vandewal feels there would be a better chance that feds would heed their message if they worked together. 

Also joining the coalition is Save South Frontenac, a group concerned about the impact that the rail line would have on their rural community. Initially opposed to the project, Save South Frontenac believes joining Kingston and South Frontenac would help save their properties and protect environmentally sensitive areas. 

Two members of the group, Katie Koopman and Gord Bolton, were also at the Cataraqui Arena for the announcement. 

Koopman hopes to build on their grassroots movement. 

On the surface, the collaboration or partnership would seem to be a case of strange bedfellows. 

But Paterson believes having three parties with a common goal sends a powerful message. 

Paterson says there could be other municipalities joining the coalition as they look to build on momentum. 

Alto is proposing a high-speed rail line along a corridor between Toronto and Quebec City with stops in Laval, Montreal, Ottawa, and Peterborough. 

The cost of the project is between $60 and $90 billion with an anticipated completion date of around 2043. 

Story by Ken Hashizume