Ontario Finalizes Plans For Highway Service Centres

McGuinty Government Improves Driver Safety While Boosting the Local Economy

TORONTO, April 6 /CNW/ -

NEWS

Ontario has confirmed that Host Kilmer Service Centres (HKSC) will be the new service provider for Ontario's service centres. The 20 redeveloped service centres will feature modernized rest areas, increased accessibility and improved food services, while creating approximately 2,000 to 2,500 service centre jobs.

Construction will occur over a few phases; the first phase is underway and seven service centres are scheduled to open with fuel, washrooms, parking and a convenience store, in July 2010. These seven service centres will be fully operational in September 2010 when travellers will have access to Canadian Tire fuel stations with adjacent convenience stores, and a variety of popular food operators such as Tim Hortons, A&W, and Burger King. The redeveloped service centres will also feature new staffed tourism centres at Tilbury South and Bainsville-the two centres that are nearest to the Windsor-Detroit and the Quebec borders, which will provide motorists with travel information about attractions throughout Ontario.

Over the next three years, 20 of the 23 service centres will be redeveloped with approximately 350 construction jobs being created at each site. The new service centres will be built according to LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards as part of the government's commitment to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. LEED standard is a green building rating system that evaluates healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

QUOTES

"By redeveloping the highway service centres, the government is creating and maintaining local jobs, contributing to road safety and economic prosperity, and supporting the development of sustainable facilities across Ontario."

- Brad Duguid, Minister Energy and Infrastructure

"I'm very excited that the first phase of Ontario's new service centres will open this summer. Residents and tourists will experience modern, energy efficient and family-friendly centres. These service stations are an important step forward in providing enhanced options for Ontarians and visitors."

- Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation

QUICK FACTS

    
    -   Infrastructure Ontario managed the competitive procurement of this
        project. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to
        managing some of the province's larger and more complex
        infrastructure renewal projects.

    -   During construction, interim services (including parking, portable
        washrooms, public telephones, water and limited food service) will be
        offered at select service centre locations.
    

LEARN MORE

Get up-to-date information about service centre closures and temporary services at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres/questions-and-answers.shtml

Get on the road and visit great Ontario travel destinations.(http://www.ontariotravel.net)

Disponible en français

Backgrounder

    
                 CONTRACT AWARDED FOR ONTARIO SERVICE CENTRES
    

Host Kilmer Service Centres (HKSC) has signed a contract with the Province of Ontario to be the new service provider of Ontario's 23 highway service centres.

The redeveloped service centres will offer quick service dining, convenience retail and fuel services, tourism information, truck facilities, and state-of-the-art washrooms that are fully and easily accessible, well-lit and well-maintained.

    
    Host Kilmer Services Centres (HKSC) contract
    --------------------------------------------
    

Under the terms of the contract signed with the Province of Ontario, Host Kilmer Service Centres (HKSC) has committed to:

    
    -   being solely responsible for maintaining and operating Ontario's
        highway service centres (under a 50 year agreement)

    -   pay all costs related to operation, maintenance and lifecycle repair
        and renewal of the centres over the next 50 years

    -   share a portion of revenues generated at the 23 sites with the
        Government of Ontario

    -   partner with the government in redeveloping 20 service centres where
        current leases have expired or will expire over the next three years
    

The cost to design and construct 20 new service centres is approximately $300 million. HKSC is contributing more than $100 million to the cost of redeveloping the service centres. Under the terms of the contract, the Province expects its share of the investment in the new service centres to be fully recovered over the duration of the contract.

HKSC's team members include:

    
    -   HMSHost
    -   Kilmer Van Nostrand
    -   EllisDon Corporation

    Risks Transfers
    ---------------
    

The Ontario Service Centres project is being delivered using an Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model. Under the AFP contract agreement, HKSC is responsible for design errors and omissions, project management and sub-contractor coordination, increases in construction material prices and labour costs, schedule and project completion delays, and other related construction risks. In the past, the public sector assumed these risks; however, the AFP model now transfers these risks to the private sector.

The contract with HKSC has integrated the design and construction of the new service centres with long-term building maintenance and lifecycle costs.

As a result, the 50-year maintenance agreement with HKSC will ensure that the physical components of the new facilities - roofing structure, windows, floors, heating and cooling systems and other components - are kept in excellent working condition over the term of the agreement and the centres will be returned to the government at the end of the agreement in good condition.

    
    Service Offerings
    -----------------

    -   Ontario Tourism Information Centres: The Highway 401 corridor is a
        tourism gateway for Ontario and the new system of centres will
        feature Tourism Information Centres at Tilbury South and Bainsville.
        Operated by Ontario Tourism Information Centres staff, these Tourism
        Information Centres will promote Ontario to travellers and provide an
        excellent opportunity to communicate to the cross-border travellers
        from Windsor and from Quebec. Self-service provincial tourism
        information stations will be available at the remaining service
        centres. Travellers will be able to find news of local, regional and
        provincial attractions and events year round. Images of the local
        area, as well as other regions of Ontario, will be featured
        throughout the spaces.

    -   New Fuel Provider and Convenience Store: A full service fuel station
        and convenience store operated by Canadian Tire will be on-site,
        making it easy for motorists to pull up, fill up and go. The Ontario
        Service Centre fuel/convenience store brands provided by Canadian
        Tire include Gas+, Canadian Tire Options(R) MasterCard(R), Gas
        Advantage(R) MasterCard(R), and Canadian Tire Money.

    -   Quick Service Dining: Each of the service centres' dining options
        will be a mix of local, national and international brands. Finding a
        bite to eat or a great cup of coffee from a diverse offering of quick
        service dining brands or even checking e-mail from a free WiFi
        connection will be easy. Ample car parking, outdoor patios where
        travellers can enjoy a meal in favourable weather, and a dedicated
        pet exercise area will invite motorists to take a break from the
        road.
    

The Ontario Service Centres' quick service dining brands will be introduced in four phases.

    
    Phase 1

    - A&W                    - Kentucky Fried Chicken   - The Market (retail,
    - Burger King            - Pizza Pizza                sundries)
    - Cold Stone Creamery    - Taco Bell                - Tim Hortons
    

Additional quick service dining brands will be provided in phases 2, 3 and 4, which will include but not be limited to:

    
    - Brioche Dorée          - New York Fries           - Starbucks Coffee
    - Casey's                - Quiznos                  - Teriyaki Experience
    - East Side Mario's      - Pusateri's               - Yogen Früz/Cinnabon
    - Extreme Pita

    Phased Redevelopment of the centres
    -----------------------------------
    

Redevelopment of the service centres is taking place in several phases with the first seven sites reopening in July 2010 with basic services (fuel, lavatories, and convenience store) and becoming fully operational in September 2010.

    
    Phase 1 redevelopment includes:
    -   Highway 401 East: Morrisburg (eastbound) east of Prescott; a gateway
        site at Bainsville (westbound), near the Quebec-Ontario border; and
        Trenton North (westbound) west of Belleville.
    -   Highway 401 West: a gateway site at Tilbury South (eastbound) between
        Windsor and Chatham-Kent; Tilbury North (westbound) west of Chatham-
        Kent; West Lorne (westbound) west of London; and Dutton (eastbound)
        east of Chatham-Kent.

    Phase 2 redevelopment includes:
    -   Phase 2A, which includes four sites along Highway 401 East: Ingleside
        (westbound), Mallorytown North (westbound), Mallorytown South
        (eastbound) and Trenton South (eastbound). Currently, these sites are
        closed.
    -   Phase 2B, which includes two sites along Highway 401 East: Napanee
        (westbound) and Port Hope (eastbound) and one site along Highway 401
        West - Woodstock (eastbound). These sites closed March 31, 2010.

    Subsequent redevelopment phases include:

    -   Phase 3, which will involve two sites along Highway 400: Barrie
        (northbound) and Cookstown (southbound).
    -   Phase 4, which will involve three sites: one site along Highway 400,
        King City (northbound); and two sites along Highway 401 West -
        Cambridge North (westbound) and Cambridge South (eastbound).
    

For construction updates and information about all of the phased construction timeline, please visit http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres.

    
    Commercial Industries
    ---------------------

    -   Truckers of all segments of the industry (for-hire carriers, private
        carriers and intermodal suppliers) will find access to these new
        service centres to be convenient and, once on the property, will find
        generous space allotted for parking.
    -   HKSC will have a dedicated outreach program to the motor coach
        industry. Drivers and group tour escorts who enroll in HKSC's loyalty
        program will enjoy complimentary meals when accompanying a group of
        20 or more in the service centres.

    Other Features and Benefits
    ---------------------------
    

Architecture/Design: Designed and built for the next 50 years with environmentally responsible and sustainable features, the new service centres will be constructed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification standards - a respected green building rating system. Some of the environmentally responsible and sustainable design features include:

    
    -   Water-efficient landscaping utilizing drought resistant planting;
    -   Installation of water-efficient fixtures in washrooms, such as
        waterless urinals and touch-less faucets, to reduce water use by more
        than 40 per cent;
    -   Elimination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the heating and cooling
        equipment - chlorofluorocarbons are refrigerants that cause ozone
        layer depletion;
    -   Optimizing energy performance by using energy efficient equipment;
    -   Use of regional materials that contain a minimum of 15 per cent
        recycled content;
    -   Use of adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings and carpets that are low
        in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to meet standards such as Green
        Seal or the Green Label Indoor Quality Test Program;
    

For more information about this project, please visit:

    
    -   www.infrastructureontario.ca
    -   www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/service-centres/
    

Disponible en français

April 2010

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Bob Nichols, Ministry of Transportation, [phone]; Paulette den Elzen, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]