With regards to the at-grades that currently exist on Hwy 2 between Calgary and Edmonton, those will be removed since the province is eventually upgrading Hwy 2 to a fully grade-separated freeway. I would assume that the Stelmach support simply means that for the present, any future upgrade plans to Hwy 2 will include right-of-way for the rail. Actually I think a large portion of the rail right-of-way may already be available in the form existing and abandoned CPR lines.
As for the high-speed rail being partially funded privately, that would be an affirmative, as there is already a group of investors who exist out there who have created their own plans regarding the alignment of the railway and is in close connection with Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation.
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