Mississippi Mills residents invited to weigh in as ALTO high-speed rail consultation window extended

Residents in Mississippi Mills are once again being reminded to participate in public consultations on the proposed ALTO High Speed Rail Project after the deadline to provide feedback was officially extended.

As previously reported by Lanarkist, ALTO is currently reviewing options for the proposed high-speed rail line, which would travel from along two potential corridors from Toronto to Quebec. The northernmost section of one of those route options could travel through Mississippi Mills, prompting concern among residents and municipal officials about potential environmental and community impacts.

Mayor Christa Lowry shared an update on Thursday, March 12, 2026, that residents now have until April 24 to submit feedback on the project. After receiving many messages from residents both within the municipality and beyond its borders about the project, the mayor is “strongly encouraging” people to submit detailed feedback directly to the project proponents rather than the municipality itself.

“Understand that the Municipality of Mississippi Mills is not a decision maker in this process,” she wrote in her update. “We are a stakeholder, just like residents and landowners. Comments are most effective when they explain real impacts, not simply whether you support or oppose the project.”

Lowry pointed to the agricultural impact as one example, noting that residents whose land could be affected by the rail line should outline how a corridor might disrupt their specific agricultural operations.

“For example, if your farm property could be split by the corridor, it is important to describe how that would affect farming operations, access, drainage, or what an orphaned parcel would mean long-term,” she explained.

Lowry added that the municipality is also in the process of reviewing the proposal from a local government perspective. She pointed to the following key areas of concern:

Impacts to roads, emergency response, and municipal services

Impacts to recreational trail systems and watershed systems

Drainage and water management impacts

Conflicts with long-term land-use planning throughout our municipality but specifically in Almonte, Appleton, and Clayton

Risks of orphaning parts of the municipality and isolating farm parcels

Lack tangible benefits and weak community benefit package for communities hosting the corridor

Potential negative impacts on local tourism, economic development, and rural transit

“I cannot stress enough how important it is for residents to provide feedback through the official process directly to ALTO,” Lowry urged. “This is critical if you have specific concerns about your own property’s viability or other impacts you wish to have noted.”

Residents can learn more about the proposal, review corridor maps and submit feedback through the project’s online consultation portal at altotrain.ca.