Province issues Scarborough subway RFQ
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx released a request for qualifications (RFQ) to identify teams interested in designing and building the stations, rail and systems (SRS) package for the Scarborough Subway Extension project. The government made the announcement on September 17.
“The release of this procurement package marks another milestone reached on Premier Ford’s transit expansion plan,” said Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney. “Each project milestone we achieve demonstrates our government’s commitment to building a world-class, efficient rapid transit network that will cut through congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and get people to where they need to go faster.”
The SRS scope of work includes:
- three new subway stations, with associated bus terminal facilities, at Lawrence Avenue and McCowan Road, Scarborough Centre and a terminal station at McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue,
- eight emergency exit buildings and other required emergency and life-safety facilities,
- a transition section between Kennedy Station and the tunnel boring machine extraction shaft at Eglinton Avenue East and Midland Avenue.,
- installation, testing and commissioning of all systems equipment including track, ventilation, signals, communications, integrated control system, traction power, and all other permanent mechanical and electrical systems,
- four traction power sub stations, and
- integration with TTC infrastructure at Kennedy Station as well as with the advance tunnel infrastructure works.
The RFQ is the first step in the procurement process. IO and Metrolinx will evaluate submissions and are expected to announce a shortlist of qualified proponents who will be invited to respond to a request for proposals in early 2022. The shortlisted proponents will be invited to submit detailed proposals on the design and delivery of this package of work as part of that step in the process.
"We are making important progress on delivering modern and reliable rapid transit for Scarborough by starting procurement for the stations, rail and systems contract,” said Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster. “Securing a team of skilled industry leaders to complete this major part of the project will help us get the extension completed as quickly as possible for transit riders in Scarborough and around the region."
The three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension is one of four priority subway projects in the Greater Toronto Area. It will extend the Toronto Transit Commission’s Bloor-Danforth Line 2 approximately eight kilometres, from Kennedy Station to a new terminus at Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road. The construction work itself is being delivered in two large contracts: the SRS package and the advance tunnel contract. The tunnel contract was awarded to Strabag in May.
Featured image: Work is already underway on the advance tunnelling portion of the Scarborough subway extension project. (Infrastructure Ontario)