Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued two Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) for the Ontario Line project. This is the first step in selecting the teams who will be responsible for constructing this major transit project.
The Ontario Line is a 15.5km stand-alone rapid transit line that will connect the Ontario Science Centre to Exhibition/Ontario Place. Over half of the route is planned to run underground through new tunnels, with the remainder running along elevated and at-grade rail corridor sections of track. Fifteen stations are proposed, with numerous connections to the broader transit network, including GO Transit rail services, the Toronto Transit Commission’s subway Lines 1 and 2, the future Line 5 (Eglinton Crosstown LRT), as well as numerous bus and streetcar routes.
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The Ontario Line is being delivered as three separate public-private partnership (P3) procurement contracts: one rolling stock, systems, operations and maintenance contract for the entire 15.5km line and two separate civil, stations and tunnel contracts – one for the southern segment and one for the northern segment of the line. The schedules for each contract will be aligned to allow for a single in-service date for the Ontario Line.
Creating three separate contracts of manageable size and acceptable risk will encourage competition and active participation from the market to support innovation and ensure that the right teams are in place to successfully deliver the line at the best value for taxpayers.
The RFQs issued are for the first two P3 contracts, which include:
Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance (RSSOM)
- A design-build-finance-operate-maintain contract for the entire Ontario Line, for a 30-year term
- Rolling Stock: design, supply, operate and maintain the vehicles (trains)
- Systems: design, build, operate and maintain all track, communications (e.g. network, Wi-Fi, CCTV, passenger information) and train control systems for the Ontario Line
- Design, build, operate and maintain the Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility (where the vehicles are stored); the Operations Control Centre (where staff control train operations and are connected to TTC and GO Transit systems); and the Backup Operations Control Centre
- Working collaboratively with the TTC in accordance with future operations and maintenance agreements.
- Integrating fare equipment with the PRESTO system
Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel
- A design-build-finance contract for the southern portion of the Ontario Line, from Exhibition/Ontario Place to the Don Yard portal (west of the Don River)
- Civil: ground works required to build the tunnels and stations; utility and conduit works to prepare for the RSSOM mechanical and electrical systems; guideway structures and facilities to prepare for the track structure to be installed by the RSSOM contractor
- Stations:
- one above-ground station to be integrated with the existing GO Transit Exhibition Station
- two underground stations to be integrated with the existing TTC Osgoode and Queen subway stations
- four new underground stations (King/Bathurst, Queen/Spadina, Moss Park, Corktown)
- Tunnel: a six-kilometre tunnel and all associated tunnelling works from Exhibition to Don Yard portal (west of Don River)
The RFQ for the northern civil, stations and tunnel contract, the north portion of the Ontario Line from Gerrard Station to the Ontario Science Centre, is expected to be issued in early 2022. The general scope includes seven stations, a three kilometre tunnel, two portals and the associated approach structures, bridges and elevated guideways.
Companies interested in bidding on these contracts must register with www.merx.com to download the RFQs.
IO and Metrolinx will evaluate RFQ submissions. Teams that possess the relevant experience and capacity to deliver each project will be shortlisted and invited to respond to a Request for Proposals in Fall 2020.
In addition to the three main P3 contracts, there will also be a series of early works projects for bridge, track and other preparatory activities to help advance the delivery of the Ontario Line. Early works will occur along the joint rail corridor where the Ontario Line will operate next to existing GO Transit rail services. These contracts will be procured traditionally and will begin to be issued to the market later this year.
The Ontario Line is one of four priority transit projects announced by the Province in 2019 for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Planning is underway for all four subway projects and procurements for the subway program are being staged to ensure each project is delivered successfully.
For more information, visit Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx.
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