Whereas VIA Rail provides essential passenger rail service through Kingston as part of the Toronto–Montreal corridor, a critical link for residents, students, businesses, and visitors to the city; and
Whereas Kingston relies on frequent, reliable VIA Rail service for connectivity to major urban centres, economic development, tourism, and as a sustainable mode of transportation that supports the government’s climate change goals; and
Whereas Kingston is the fourth busiest VIA Rail station in the country with thousands of passengers travelling through Kingston yearly, yet there continues to be uncertainty about the future of passenger rail service in Kingston and Eastern Ontario; and
Whereas in 2016 VIA Rail committed to Kingston being a Regional VIA Hub for increased service with early morning and late-night trains coming into and out of Kingston, recognizing that Kingston was not on the High-Speed Rail Line; and
Whereas since VIA’s 2016 commitment to the City, there have been three different VIA Presidents and six different Federal Transport Ministers, all with differing visions for the future of passenger service in Eastern Ontario, particularly Kingston, including the introduction of High Frequency Rail, followed by the government moving to High-Speed Rail; and
Whereas there continues to be a lack of communication from VIA about their plans for the future of passenger rail service in Kingston and neighbouring communities along the corridor; and
Whereas continued questions about the frequency and reliability of the service in Kingston and eastern Ontario will impact VIA's ridership in the short-term as people look for more reliable modes of transit to and from their destinations; and
Whereas there is significant community demand for additional travel options, including a late-night train departing Toronto for Kingston, to better serve residents returning home from work, cultural, recreational, and sporting events, and to support students and weekend travelers; and
Whereas maintaining the existing service levels and schedules in the Toronto–Montreal corridor is essential to ensuring equitable and accessible travel options for Kingston and eastern Ontario;
Therefore Be It Resolved That Kingston City Council requests that VIA Rail Canada:
- Commit to maintaining its existing passenger rail service levels in the Toronto–Montreal corridor through Kingston;
- Commit to a forward-thinking plan for enhanced passenger rail service in Kingston that aligns with VIAction 2030 strategic plan, including upgrades to the existing station and predictable, enhanced service into and out of Kingston; and
- Collaborate with the city and municipal partners to establish a survey and gather data that would support the introduction of a new late-night train departing from Toronto to provide improved travel flexibility and accessibility for residents and visitors; and
That a copy of this motion be shared with Mario Peloquin, President and CEO of VIA Rail Canada, the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, M.P. Minister of Transport, Mark Gerretsen, M.P. Kingston and the Islands, the Honourable Prabmeet Singh Sakaria, M.P.P. Minister of Transportation, Ted Hsu, M.P.P. Kingston and the Islands, John Jordan, M.P.P. Lanark – Frontenac – Kingston, the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, the Eastern Ontario Mayors' Caucus, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the cities of Port Hope, Cobourg, Belleville, Napanee, Gananoque, Brockville, and Cornwall.