Ontario to establish high-speed rail advisory board

Ontario will set up an advisory board to provide strategic support for the province's high-speed rail plans, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced earlier this week.

The board will engage with the private sector, stakeholders and indigenous communities about the project, according to a press release issued by Wynne's office. Ontario is considering providing high-speed rail service between Toronto and Windsor.

The board's members will have experience in technology, engineering, environmental sciences, transportation planning, and the financing and delivery of infrastructure projects.

Ontario in May released a report that recommended a phased approach to delivering high-speed rail along the Toronto-Windsor corridor. The first phase involves establishing the advisory board.

The province also has launched a website to provide more information to southwestern Ontario residents about the project. The website also will enable locals to provide feedback.

The proposed high-speed line would serve a corridor that's home to more than 7 million people. The route would include stops in Windsor, Chatham, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Toronto Union Station, with a connection to Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Ontario chose the Toronto-Windsor corridor because it's a hub for startups, research institutions, and the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, according to Wynne's release. The region also is growing faster than its current transportation network can accommodate.

"High-speed rail will dramatically change what's possible for people in Southwestern Ontario," Wynne said. "Canada's first high-speed rail service will also help companies along the Toronto-Windsor corridor to continue to attract top talent and take their business to the next level."