Canadian Transportation Agency Consultation on the Approval of Railway Line Construction (Lac-Mégantic rail bypass)

Important Notice

Extension of the written consultation period until January 30, 2026, and of the in-person consultation sessions on December 2, 2025, from 1 pm to 5 pm (EST) and from 6 pm to 9 pm (EST).

On July 6, 2013, a freight train consisting of 72 tank cars filled with crude oil, which had been parked at the top of a hill in Nantes, Quebec, derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. The tragedy claimed the lives of 47 people.

On May 11, 2018, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Quebec announced funding for a 12.5 km rail bypass project that will avoid downtown Lac-Mégantic.

The new track would pass through the municipalities of Frontenac, Lac-Mégantic, and Nantes between mile post 113.27 of the Moosehead Subdivision and mile post 3.49 of the Sherbrooke Subdivision.

At the request of Transport Canada, the railway company submitted an application to the Canadian Transportation Agency for authorization to construct a railway line, in accordance with Section 98 of the Canada Transportation Act.

Authorization from the Canadian Transportation Agency is being sought to construct a 12.5-kilometre railway line, with the objective of relocating railway operations outside downtown Lac-Mégantic (the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass). Aside from the confidential report on Indigenous consultations, all elements of the application are available on this website.

How to Participate

The Canadian Transportation Agency is inviting the public to comment on the application. You can email your comments to megantic@otc-cta.gc.ca from November 12 to January 30, 2026. You can also visit the Canadian Transportation Agency’s website as of November 12, 2025.

The Canadian Transportation Agency wants feedback from individuals and organizations that may be affected by the proposed bypass. Your opinions and comments are important.

The Agency will hold two in-person sessions on December 2, 2025, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm and from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, at the Centre sportif Mégantic in the Bestar multipurpose room. All details, as well as information on how to register for the sessions, will be available on the Agency’s website as of November 12, 2025.

The purpose of the consultation session with Agency members is to provide an opportunity for local community citizens and organizations to express their views on the proposed route for the bypass. It is not the members’ role to respond to questions or concerns raised during the consultation.

Transport Canada and the railway operator will respond to comments and questions from the public in the days following the in-person consultation.

Have your say

To read the documents related to the application to build the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, click a button below and enter your email address when prompted. You’ll then receive access to the selected document.

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Volume 1 – Project and location

• Application - Application to Construct a Railway Line Under Section 98 of the Canada Transportation Act (1996, c.10)
• Certification – Transport Canada’s Certification of Documents
• Appendix 1-1 – List of Documents in this Application Prepared by Transport Canada
• Appendix 1-2 – Table of Concordance
• Appendix 1-3 – Existing Corridor
• Appendix 1-4 – Route Selection Studies
• Appendix 1-5 – Land Acquisition Report
• Appendix 1-6 – Project Overview

Volume 2 – Design and criteria

• Appendix 2-1 – Bypass Design Criteria
• Appendix 2-2 – Infrastructure Design Report
• Appendix 2-3 – Drawing Package
• Appendix 2-4 – Construction Report
• Appendix 2-5 – Operation Report
• Appendix 2-6 – Geotechnical Report
• Appendix 2-6– Amendment
• Appendix 2-7 – Hydrogeology Report
• Appendix 2-7– Amendment
• Appendix 2-8 – Hydraulic Study Report
• Appendix 2-9 – Water Management Report

Volume 3 – Impacts and mitigation

• Appendix 3-1 – Environmental Effects Evaluation – Volume 1
• Appendix 3-1 – Environmental Effects Evaluation – Volume 2
• Appendix 3-2 – CTA Application – Appendix 3-2 – Communications on Potential Additional Studies
• Appendix 3-3 – Traffic Impact Study
• Appendix 3-3 – Amendment
• Appendix 3-4 – Phase I ESA
• Appendix 3-5 – Phase II ESA
• Appendix 3-5 - Phase II ESA – 1
• Appendix 3-5 - Phase II ESA - 2
• Appendix 3-6 – Noise and Vibration Assessment
• Appendix 3-7 – Table of Commitments

Volume 4 – Engagement

• Appendix 4-1 – Public Indigenous Engagement Report
• Appendix 4-2 – Stakeholder Engagement Report
• Appendix 4-3 – Ethnoscop – Interventions archéologiques 2021-2022 – Mars 2023
• Appendix 4-4 – Letters of Support

Volume 5 – Monitoring plans

• Appendix 5-1 – Construction Noise Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 5-2 – Construction Vibration Monitoring and Building Survey Plan
• Appendix 5-3 – Construction Environmental Management Plan
• Appendix 5-4 – Surface Water Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 5-5 – Archaeology Chance Find Procedure
• Appendix 5-6 – Post-Construction ROW Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 5-7 – Groundwater and Potable Water Well Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 5-8 – Wetlands Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 5-9 – Forest Compensation Monitoring Plan
• Appendix 5-10 – Construction Project Communication Plan

Volume 6 – Confidential Reports

• Appendix 6-1 – Confidential Indigenous Engagement Report (this document is not available for consultation)

You can also consult a paper copy of the application in-person at the municipalities’ city halls as per the following schedule: in Nantes from November 12 to 25, in Frontenac from November 26 to December 9, and in Lac-Mégantic from December 10 to 23. Please note that documents will be available for consultation during municipalities’ city halls opening hours.

Transport Canada and the rail operator aim to respond to public comments within three business days.

Related Information

• Subscribe to our newsletter about the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project
• More info about the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass

Comments

For any question about the Canadian Transportation Agency's public comment process, please contact the Agency directly by email at please megantic@otc-cta.gc.ca.