Giving Wildlife a Voice:
Alto High Speed Rail
You may have seen headlines about Alto, the proposed high-speed rail network linking Toronto and Montréal. While this project offers an opportunity to meet our climate goals, it presents a significant challenge for wildlife in the Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) corridor.
The rail line, which would be entirely fenced for safety, would bisect this continental migration pathway. For the moose, bobcats, and sensitive herptiles we work to protect, an unmitigated rail line acts as a permanent wall, blocking the movement essential for their long-term survival.
To ensure this project respects the region's unique biological values, we are proactively sharing our connectivity mapping and data on areas of ecological significance with the Alto team. Our goal is to ensure that landscape permeability and the preservation of intact habitat are prioritized from the earliest design stages.
Our advocacy focuses on:
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Evidence-Based Design: Using our corridor mapping to identify critical "pinch points" and prevent habitat fragmentation.
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Robust Mitigation: Pushing for a high frequency of wildlife overpasses, tunnels, and viaducts (elevated rail sections).
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Habitat Protection: Maintaining strict buffer zones around core forest areas and significant wetlands.
Proposed routes for the Alto High-Speed Rail.
Get Involved
Alto will lead another round of public consultation on the central segment of the corridor (Ottawa-Montréal) in Fall 2026. When the consultation period opens you can:
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Share Your Concerns: Fill in the survey, or upload a brief to speak specifically about the importance of wildlife movement in this area and the risks of habitat fragmentation.
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Attend an Open House: Alto is hosting in-person and virtual sessions throughout Fall 2026. Find a session near you here.
Nature doesn't have a seat at the planning table—but you do. By participating early, we can ensure this project respects the wildlife that also call this region home and need to move through it.