WHITBY - Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have awarded a contract to Plenary Infrastructure ERMF to design, build, finance and maintain the East Rail Maintenance Facility (ERMF) project. The contract ensures that the facility will be delivered for a fixed price and by a fixed delivery date.

The contract value for the ERMF is approximately $859.2 million, which reflects the substantial completion payment and monthly service payments before inflation adjustments. Plenary Infrastructure ERMF will receive payment once construction is complete, followed by monthly payments for maintenance and lifecycle repair work over a 30-year period; this will ensure the facility is kept in excellent condition over the contract term.

The ERMF is approximately 500,000 square feet and being built to support GO Transit's service expansion, including the introduction of Regional Express Rail service under the Government of Ontario's Moving Ontario Forward plan.

The facility includes: 

  • tracks and storage for thirteen 12-car passenger trains
  • built-in capacity to store an additional nine passenger trains for future use
  • stations to repair, maintain, fuel, wash and power GO trains 
  • staff and visitor parking 
  • sustainable design and construction features, with the goal of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification

Design and construction work will commence in spring 2015 and substantial completion is anticipated for the end of 2017. At the peak of construction, Plenary Infrastructure ERMF anticipates that approximately 1,000 workers will be on-site, the majority of which will come from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Plenary Infrastructure ERMF is a consortium that includes:

  • Developer: Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd., Kiewit Canada Development Corp.,  Bird Capital Limited Partnership
  • Construction: Bird Design-Build Construction Inc., Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
  • Design: Stantec Consulting, Arup Canada Inc.
  • Facilities Management: Honeywell Limited, Toronto Terminals Railway
  • Financing provided by: TD Bank, Bank of Montreal and TD Securities  

The ERMF project underwent an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by a third party fairness advisor. An extensive evaluation determined that Plenary Infrastructure ERMF submitted the proposal that delivers the best value for Ontario taxpayers. 

IO and Metrolinx are working together to deliver the project, which will remain publicly owned and controlled. The project is funded by the Province of Ontario via Metrolinx, with the federal government, through PPP Canada, contributing up to 25 per cent of eligible costs.  

Quotes:  

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation  
“It is great to see progress on this project. The new maintenance and storage facility supports GO Transit's expansion plans, including our commitment to implement Regional Express Rail. This is proof of our government's commitment to making the daily commute and quality of life better for Ontario families.”

Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure 
“This important investment in the East Rail Maintenance Facility will provide a high-quality transit hub for Ontarians, ensuring that our transit system can remain safe and reliable. I look forward to construction starting on this significant project, and to realizing the strong economic benefits for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.”

Background: 

IO is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that works to deliver public benefits through partnerships with the private sector. IO delivers large, complex public infrastructure projects using a made-in-Ontario modern procurement and project management practice called Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP). IO also partners with the private sector to manage one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public-sector clients with loans to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to advise the provincial public-sector clients on commercial transactions.

The new maintenance facility is part of Metrolinx's regional transportation plan to provide residents and businesses in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with fast, convenient and integrated transit. Working through its divisions GO Transit, PRESTO and Union Pearson Express, Metrolinx is transforming the way the region moves.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca and www.metrolinx.com for more information. 

Contact: 

Lisa DiMenna 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-326-9378 

Anne Marie Aikins 
Metrolinx 
416-202-5796 

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