One step closer to Sheppard East LRT

Request for qualifications issued for a new maintenance and storage facility for new light rail vehicles

TORONTO, June 3 /CNW/ - Infrastructure Ontario has released a request for qualifications (RFQ) to pre-qualify and shortlist project teams to design, build, finance and maintain a new maintenance and storage facility for new light rail vehicles that will operate on the Sheppard East Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Scarborough LRT projects.

The maintenance and storage facility will be constructed on the corner of Sheppard Avenue and Conlins Road in Scarborough.

Construction of the Sheppard East LRT began in December 2009 and is expected to be completed in spring 2014.

The development of this transit line and facility will create jobs, help increase transit ridership, improve air quality, help reduce travel time and increase access to other transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

The RFQ is the first step in a competitive procurement process to select a project team for the new maintenance and storage facility. The RFQ for this project is available at www.merx.com.

RFQ submissions will be evaluated by Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx and TTC transit specialists. These specialists will pre-qualify and shortlist project teams with the design, construction and maintenance capability and experience, the qualified personnel and the financial strength to deliver the project. The shortlisted teams will be invited to respond to a request for proposals (RFP), expected to be released in mid-2010.

The federal government will provide up to a maximum of $333 million, from the Building Canada Fund (BCF), for funding the Sheppard East LRT and the maintenance and storage facility projects. The province of Ontario and Metrolinx will be responsible for the remaining costs.

Quotes:

"The Government of Canada understands how important it is to ease commutes and reduce congestion in the Greater Toronto region, which is why we have invested in new transit projects such as the Sheppard East Light Rail Transit line," said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Regional Minister for the Greater Toronto Area.

"Ontario's provincial government is committed to improving public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. That's why we are funding a new maintenance facility, which will be used to store and maintain new light rail vehicles," said Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Transportation.

"This project is just the first of many that will improve transit services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area," said Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. "Our government's investment in transit and transit facilities will not only help create thousands of new well-paid jobs, but also will help reduce energy consumption, travel time and improve air quality by getting more cars off the road."

"The new service and maintenance facility will support both the Sheppard East LRT and Scarborough LRT projects. Each project will launch a new era of transit for the Scarborough community by providing a rapid transit service that efficiently links people to their destinations and reduces dependency on the private automobile. As initial components of Toronto's Transit City Plan, these projects also support ongoing city-building and economic development activities that make Toronto a more liveable, attractive and sustainable city," said Adam Giambrone, TTC Chair.

"This marks an important first step moving forward and is one more confirmation that the Province, together with Metrolinx, is committed to building these regional projects, said Robert Prichard, Metrolinx President and CEO. "This project is an essential part of our plan to transform transportation in Scarborough and, once complete, the new facility will contribute to our efforts to make the transportation system in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area more reliable and customer-focused."

Infrastructure Ontario will work with Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission to deliver the new Sheppard East maintenance and storage facility. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Find out more about the procurement of this project at www.infrastructureontario.ca.

To learn about The Big Move, the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan, visit www.metrolinx.com.

For more information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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For further information: Ryan Bissonette, Public Affairs, TTC, [phone]; Paulette den Elzen, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]; Vanessa Thomas, Strategic Communications, Metrolinx, [phone], ext. 5264