More local communities are coming out in opposition to the planned Alto high speed rail line.
During a Hastings county meeting on Wednesday, several local mayors voiced their opposition to the project, citing the negative effects it could have on their communities.
Mayor of Tweed, Don Degenova, said that the federal government hasn’t spent any money on rural infrastructure during his tenure, yet expects support for federal projects.
“When we were hit by the tornado in July 2022, I lobbied hard to get funding for my residents. Ultimately, at the end of the day, they said no,” said Mayor Degenova. “Now they’re looking at us to support their initiative when they turned their back on us, I say no to anything they want to do.”
Mayor Lloyd Blackburn of Madoc has also declared his opposition to the high speed rail project. He said that the proposed northern line could cut through and erase multiple hamlets in the north of his community.
“Since that open house we had, it’s been south pushing it north and the north pushing it south. That has to stop,” said Mayor Blackburn. “In my opinion, either we either we want it or we don’t. But we have to stand together, one way or another.”
He went on to say that his citizens can’t live under a grey cloud of uncertainty for years regarding the project.
