Project will create jobs throughout the Greater Toronto Area    

TORONTO - A major step has been taken towards the Air Rail Link (ARL) line project.  On behalf of Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario announced AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. has reached commercial and financial close. This means that all contractual steps have been completed with AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. and construction of the three-kilometre “spur line” for the Air Rail Link and a new passenger station at Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto Pearson) will begin by spring 2012.   

AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. signed a contract with the province to design, build and finance the construction of the three-kilometre “spur line” and passenger station for $128.6 million. At the peak of construction activity, AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. estimates 170 workers are expected on the construction site daily. The contract is for a fixed price and a fixed completion date.

Design and construction of the Air Rail Link (ARL) “spur line” and new ARL passenger station at Toronto Pearson will help strengthen the economy by directly and indirectly supporting and creating 1,400 jobs.

Upon completion, the three-kilometre “spur line” will branch off the Weston Subdivision (GO Georgetown corridor) and connect to Toronto Pearson with a new passenger station at Terminal 1. Construction of this portion of the Air Rail Link is expected to be completed by summer 2014 and the Air Rail Link will be in service in time for the TO2015 Pan / Parapan American Games.  Early in 2012, AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. will start design work, engineering survey work and soil investigations.   

The project for the Air Rail Link “spur line” and new passenger station underwent an open, fair and competitive procurement process; AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. submitted the proposal that delivered the best value for Ontario taxpayers.  

AirLINX Transit Partners Inc. is a consortium between Aecon Construction and Materials Limited and Dufferin Construction Company - a division of Holcim (Canada) Inc.   

Financing for the project was provided by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Laurentian Bank of Canada, National Bank of Canada, and the Toronto-Dominion Bank.  National Bank Financial acted as Financial Advisor to the consortium.  

The three-kilometre Air Rail Link “spur line” and new passenger station will be delivered using the province's alternative financing and procurement (AFP) delivery model, which is managed by Infrastructure Ontario.

Infrastructure Ontario will post copies of the project agreement and the value for money (VFM) report online at www.infrastructureontario.ca in the coming months.

Infrastructure Ontario, a Crown corporation, delivers some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget; manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, including providing asset management and property and land management; and provides the public sector and not-for-profit organizations with long-term financing to renew public infrastructure. 

Quotes: 

Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Transportation  
“In its entirety, the Air Rail Link project will create 10,000 jobs in design and construction and take 1.2 million car trips off our roads in its first year of operation alone. We're going to construct this link in a way that's responsible, that offers excellent value to taxpayers and that dramatically reduces the number of cars that travel between Pearson Airport and downtown Toronto.”  

Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO, Metrolinx  
“The Air Rail Link is a signature project for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area that will provide a great new transportation option between our nation's two busiest transportation hubs. Achieving this milestone demonstrates our commitment to provide the Air Rail Link in time for the Pan / Parapan American Games.”

Lloyd McCoomb, President and CEO, Greater Toronto Airports Authority  
“We look forward to construction starting on this vital infrastructure. Connecting Canada's largest airport to Toronto's downtown via a comfortable and reliable transportation option is an important service for our airport guests. This is a critical piece of the transportation equation for our region, good for the environment and Ontario's global competitiveness.” 

Contacts: 

Paulette den Elzen
Infrastructure Ontario
416-327-5764

Vanessa Thomas
Media Relations Metrolinx
416-874-5974  

David Salter 
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation 
647-222-5162 

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