CANADA: Greater Toronto area transport agency Metrolinx has selected the Hamilton Transit Alliance to undertake the first major package of work for the Hamilton LRT project to develop a 14 km tram light rail line.
An alliance model is being used for the Civil & Utilities contract, with Metrolinx as the project owner, Aecon leading the Hamilton Transit Alliance as the construction partner responsible for project delivery, and a joint venture between Hatch, Egis and Systra as the design partner.
Metrolinx said that partnering directly with private sector companies to form an alliance rather than managing a third-party consortium would allow for greater flexibility and collaboration among project participants and ensure that everyone involved is working on a ‘best-for-project’ basis.
Civil & Utilities contract
The Civil & Utilities contract covers preparatory works including utility relocation, grade separation, road reconstruction and traffic control systems.
It also includes advanced design work to replace the bridge over Highway 403, build a LRT underpass beneath the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway near Gage Avenue and improve the Queenston Road bridge over the Red Hill Valley Parkway.
The award of the contract marks the start of an alliance development phase with the scope, designs, costs and the construction schedule to be collaboratively negotiated over the next 18-24 months. This will be followed by the construction implementation phase.
‘Aecon’s experience building some of the most transformative transit projects of this generation, including three modern LRTs in Ontario, will be of great value to this critical project for Hamilton’, said Aecon Group President & CEO Jean-Louis Servranckx. ‘We are harnessing the collective strengths of our civil and utilities teams to self-perform this vital project.’
Phillip Murray, Alliance Director at Hatch, said ‘we are proud to bring our global transit expertise and our deep roots with Metrolinx in Ontario communities on this transformative project. Alongside our partners, we look forward to working collaboratively within the alliance to advance thoughtful, sustainable design solutions that will strengthen connectivity and enhance quality of life for the people of Hamilton.’
A second procurement will include the stops, track and railway systems.
Fighting gridlock
The provincial and federal governments are investing up to C$3·4bn in the Hamilton LRT, which will run from McMaster University to Eastgate Square with 17 stops including City Hall, Hamilton Stadium, Eastgate Square, Ottawa Street and Gage Park.
‘Our government is making historic investments in public transit to fight gridlock and keep people moving’, said Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria on April 30. ‘Today’s milestone brings us one step closer to delivering the Hamilton LRT, a project that will support 50 000 daily riders, connecting more people to jobs and housing and giving families and workers more choice and better access to fast, affordable public transit.’