ALTO High-Speed Rail Project

As President of the Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicle Clubs (OFATV), I am writing on behalf of our member clubs, volunteers, and the broader off-road community to formally express our strong opposition to the proposed ALTO high-speed rail project.
Ontario’s ATV trail system comprises thousands of kilometres of managed, sustainable, and legally authorised trails developed over decades through volunteer commitment, landowner partnerships, and collaboration with municipalities. These trails are a cornerstone of rural Ontario—supporting tourism, local economies, and outdoor recreation.

The proposed ALTO rail corridor poses a direct and significant threat to this infrastructure.

The loss and fragmentation of ATV trails will not only eliminate critical sections of established routes. Still, they will also sever the connectivity between clubs that is essential to a unified provincial trail network. Once divided, these systems cannot simply be reconnected. The result will be isolated trail segments, reduced rider access, and a decline in participation that will ultimately weaken the very foundation of our clubs.

Equally concerning is the broader impact on the communities we serve. Many rural businesses depend on trail-based tourism, particularly in regions where ATV use drives seasonal economic activity. Disrupting trail access will have real economic consequences—impacting small businesses, accommodations, fuel services, and local events that rely on a connected and accessible trail system.

OFATV and its member clubs have worked diligently to promote safe, responsible riding while protecting the environment and respecting land use agreements. The proposed rail development risks undoing years of progress by removing or restricting access without clear, viable alternatives.

We are calling on project proponents and government decision-makers to:

• Fully recognize ATV trails as critical infrastructure within rural Ontario
• Engage in meaningful consultation with OFATV and affected clubs
• Commit to preserving trail continuity through crossings, rerouting, or corridor adjustments
• Ensure that no existing trail is lost without an equal or improved replacement

We are not opposed to infrastructure development. However, progress must not come at the expense of established, community-driven systems that provide measurable economic and social value.

On behalf of our membership, I strongly urge that the ALTO high-speed rail project be reconsidered in its current form and that protecting Ontario’s ATV trail network be treated as a priority moving forward.

We stand ready to work collaboratively to find solutions that balance transportation advancement with the preservation of our trail systems and the communities they support.

Shawn Ellenberger
President, Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicles.
Shawn.ellenberger@quadon.ca

For more information on the ALTO project follow this link https://www.altotrain.ca/en