Ontario issues North RFP for Ontario Line subway
By Adam Freill
Construction InfrastructureProvince taking next steps in delivering fast and reliable transit for Greater Toronto Area.
Future Exhibition Station north entrance building and shared GO/Ontario Line concourse, pictured from eastern side of Atlantic Ave. (Source: Handout Image, Ontario.ca)
The Ontario government is taking the next steps in the process of completing Toronto’s Ontario Line Subway, issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to design and build the Pape Tunnel, underground stations, and the elevated guideway and stations.
“This milestone is another demonstration of our government breaking with the status quo and building the public transit system that commuters in a dense city like Toronto need to thrive,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Building Ontario through critical public transit projects, like the Ontario Line, is vital to supporting the province’s economy, alleviating gridlock on our roads, and creating thousands of good local jobs.”
The contract for the Pape Tunnel and underground stations will deliver three kilometres of twin tunnels and two new stations – one at Cosburn Avenue and another at Pape Avenue, where the all-new Ontario Line will connect to the existing Line 2. The contract will also include the construction of two new portals, which will be where the line transitions between above-ground and underground operations.
The contract for the elevated guideway and stations includes a three-kilometre elevated guideway, emergency exit buildings, and five above-ground stations – two within Metrolinx’s existing rail corridor (Riverside-Leslieville and Gerrard) and three along the elevated guideway in the northern part of the route (Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, and the Science Centre).
Construction for the Ontario Line is currently underway at Exhibition Station, at the site of the future Corktown and Moss Park stations, and in the joint rail corridor east of the Don River. Once complete, the approximate 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will accommodate nearly 400,000 trips each day.
“This milestone brings us one step closer in our vision to build Ontario with the roads, bridges, highways and transit needed to move the economy forward, stated Stan Cho‚ Associate Minister of Transportation. “With 15 stations across 15.6 kilometres of rapid transit, the Ontario Line will provide more choice for commuters and improve their connections to other subway, bus, streetcar, light-rail transit and regional rail services.”
Last November, the province awarded the South contract to Ontario Transit Group. That contract includes a six-kilometre twin-bore tunnel, as well as four new underground stations (King-Bathurst, Queen-Spadina, Moss Park, Corktown), two underground stations that will integrate with the existing Osgoode and Queen TTC subway stations, and one above-ground station that will integrate with the existing Exhibition GO Station served by the Lakeshore West GO line.
Ontario Transit Group team includes applicant lead Ferrovial Construction Canada Inc., and VINCI Construction Grands Projets; a design team of AECOM Canada Ltd., COWI North America Ltd., GHD Limited, and SENER Group; a construction team of Ferrovial Construction Canada Inc., and Janin Atlas Inc.; and financial advisor Agentis Capital.
