Canada’s largest P3 contract awarded for Eglinton Crosstown LRT

The single largest P3 construction project, the Eglinton Crosstown in Toronto, has been awarded to the Crosslinx Transit Solutions consortium to design, build, finance and maintain the rapid transit line, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx announced today.

The consortium of partners includes ACS Infrastructure Canada, Aecon, EllisDon, SNC-Lavalin and Dragados Canada. Over the coming months, IO and Metrolinx will negotiate final contract details with Crosslinx. The cost of the project, design details and expected construction schedule will be announced publicly following financial close this summer, signaling the contract has been awarded and signed.

The Eglinton 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. It will have 25 stations and stops, linking to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines. CTS will deliver a 22,500-square metre maintenance and storage facility at the western end of the LRT line; oversee the procurement and implementation of all systems, including the train control system; and construct third-party infrastructure for a number of local stakeholders, including the City of Toronto. Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown began in 2011 with the west launch site at Black Creek Drive and Eglinton Avenue. The Eglinton Crosstown is expected to provide transit service that is up to 60 percent faster than bus service today.

“EllisDon is ready to take on the largest P3 project in our company’s history, and in the history of Canada,” said Geoff Smith, EllisDon President and CEO. “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT project is a game-changer for the city of Toronto, one that will strengthen the region and improve the quality of life of thousands of commuters.”

“This is a pivotal time for Canada’s nation building, and in particular the unprecedented transit build-out planned over the next decade,” said Teri McKibbon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aecon Group Inc. ”For Aecon, this is a historic selection which confirms our strong position in the transit sector, and will contribute significantly to Aecon’s continued growth.

“The Eglinton Crosstown LRT project is one of the largest public-private partnerships globally and we are very pleased to be working together with our partners on the full scope of work for this world-class project.”

“For Metrolinx, the Eglinton Crosstown project represents a significant investment in expanded transit for Toronto, and a new integrated line that will change the way people travel across the city,” said Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO, Metrolinx. “We are pleased with the progress we have made and look forward to the next phase of delivering this important project.”

“The Eglinton Crosstown project demonstrates our bold vision to invest in transportation infrastructure across Ontario,” Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure. “This significant project will spur economic activity in the Toronto region, creating hundreds of jobs, reducing congestion, and helping us build a more prosperous province for future generations.”