19-kilometre system will have 25 stations/stops - seamlessly connecting to existing transit

TORONTO - Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) announce that Crosslinx Transit Solutions (Crosslinx) has signed a contract to complete the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (Crosstown LRT) project. Crosslinx's successful proposal will deliver the Crosstown LRT by 2021. Using the Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) delivery model, Crosslinx's winning proposal commits them to:

  • design, construct and finance an integrated transit system consisting of 25 stations/stops, track work, signaling, communications and other required infrastructure; and
  • maintain the LRT system for 30 years, including lifecycle repair and renewal of building and system components.

The contract between Crosslinx, Metrolinx and IO is valued at approximately $9.1 billion (adjusted for inflation), which reflects payments during construction, a substantial completion payment and the monthly service payments during the concession period.

Projects of this size and complexity commonly carry risks of added costs. The Crosstown contract and IO's AFP delivery model protect taxpayers by transferring significant risks to the private sector. This protection ensures the government can commit to more infrastructure projects over the long-term.

Though most construction work will be completed by early 2021, commissioning and training for the service will be carried out through to 2021 to meet the in-service date for the LRT.

At the peak of construction, Crosslinx estimates that approximately 2,500 workers will work on the project and that 90 percent of the labour will come from the Greater Toronto Area.

Crosslinx submitted the proposal that delivers the best value for Ontario taxpayers. The selection of Crosslinx is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by a third-party fairness advisor.

The Crosstown is a light rail transit line that will run across Eglinton Avenue between Mount Dennis (Weston Road) and Kennedy Station. The 19-kilometre corridor will include a 10-kilometre underground portion between Keele Street and Laird Drive. The 25 stations and stops will link to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines. It will include a maintenance and storage facility and operations and control centre.

Crosslinx's proposal provides an innovative approach with new, fully accessible stations designed using Metrolinx's principles of Design Excellence, upgrades to streetscaping, trail and pedestrian connections, including bike lanes, providing the largest single expansion of bicycle parking in Toronto's history.

Under separate Metrolinx contracts, tunnels and utility work began in 2011 and significant progress has been made with tunnelling on the western segment between Black Creek Drive and Allen Road. When in service, the Crosstown will provide service that is up to 60 percent faster than bus service today.

Metrolinx and IO are working together to deliver the Crosstown, which will remain publicly owned, controlled and accountable.

Quotes:

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation
“We are making great progress on the Crosstown and I am very pleased that we have reached this milestone. Providing light rail transit across the City, we will help thousands of commuters get where they need to be, quickly and easily. The Crosstown is further proof of our commitment to manage congestion and keep the region moving.”

Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
“This important investment in the Eglinton Crosstown line will provide fast, efficient and reliable transit for Ontarians. As part of the largest infrastructure investment in the province's history, this significant project will generate economic benefits to the Greater Toronto Area, create jobs, and keep people moving.”

Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO, Metrolinx
“This is another important milestone in the delivery of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project. We are now ready to move into the next phase of the project to build the Crosstown stations and stops, track and signal infrastructure and maintenance and storage facility to support the line. This is another example of the progress Metrolinx is making to transform the way the region moves by building a fast, convenient and integrated transit network across the GTHA.”

Bert Clark, President and CEO, Infrastructure Ontario
“Successfully reaching financial close for the Crosstown project is the result of years of hard work by IO's dedicated staff working collaboratively with Metrolinx to deliver a game-changing transit project. This made-in-Ontario procurement solution delivers an innovative contract to protect taxpayers from risks of cost overruns. Crosstown will raise the standard for other transit projects being delivered in North America.”

Background:

In addition to earlier projects like the Eglinton Crosstown, the Province is working with Metrolinx to deliver signature projects under the Moving Ontario Forward Plan - a plan that commits $31.5 billion over 10 years for investment in priority infrastructure projects across the province, such as public transit, roads, bridges and highways. This includes about $16 billion for priority rapid transit projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton (GTHA) and about $15 billion for investment in transportation and other priority infrastructure projects across the province.

Investments made through Moving Ontario Forward will provide new travel choices for commuters, help manage congestion, connect people to jobs, and improve the economy and residents' quality of life.

In the GTHA, the Province is committed to strengthening GO Transit by implementing GO Regional Express Rail (RER) service as a priority. RER will provide faster and more frequent GO rail service with electrification on core segments of the GO Rail network, including Union Pearson (UP) Express. In addition to RER, the Province is committed to implementing the Hurontario-Main LRT Project in Mississauga and Brampton, and a new LRT line in Hamilton. Ongoing planning and design work will continue for other projects in the Next Wave of Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan for the GTHA.

IO is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that works to deliver public benefits through partnerships with the private sector. IO delivers large, complex public infrastructure projects using a made-in-Ontario modern procurement and project management practice called Alternative Financing and Procurement. IO also partners with the private sector to manage one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public-sector clients with loans to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to advise the provincial public-sector clients on commercial transactions.

Metrolinx is the Province of Ontario's regional transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Currently, Metrolinx has $16 billion worth of projects underway that will make up an extensive network of regional rapid transit projects. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT project is a key project identified in Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan for the GTHA.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca and www.metrolinx.com for more information. For updates on construction progress, transit and traffic updates, visit www.thecrosstown.ca

Contacts:

Terence Foran
Infrastructure Ontario
416-326-9378

Anne Marie Aikins
Media Relations
Metrolinx
416-202-5796

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