WHITBY - Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have selected Plenary Infrastructure ERMF (Plenary) as the preferred proponent to design, build, finance and maintain the East Rail Maintenance Facility (ERMF) project. The facility is being built in Whitby to support GO Transit's planned service expansion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. 

The selection of Plenary is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by a third party fairness advisor.  

Members of the preferred proponent team include: 

  • 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  
  • Financial Advisor: TD Securities

The project includes construction of the yard tracks along with a 500,000-square-foot facility to accommodate:

  • storage for thirteen 12-car passenger trains, with capacity for nine more in the future 
  • maintenance bays for crews to conduct light and heavy maintenance work as well as stations to fuel, wash and power GO trains 
  • staff and visitor parking with capacity to expand in the future 

The facility will be designed towards the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification. LEED® buildings focus on optimal energy efficiency, healthy indoor environments and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. 

IO and Metrolinx will now begin negotiating contract details with Plenary and expect to reach financial close in March 2015. The project cost will be announced publicly following the completion of negotiations, with construction expected to begin shortly after.  

IO and Metrolinx are working together to deliver the project, which will remain publicly owned, controlled and accountable. Funding for the project is provided by the Province of Ontario via Metrolinx, with the federal government through PPP Canada, providing a portion of the funding for up to 25 per cent of eligible costs.  

Quotes:  

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation  
“This is an exciting milestone for 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 
“I'm looking forward to construction starting on this state-of-the-art facility, which will increase GO Transit's capacity, help generate jobs in the community, and contribute to our economy with a more reliable, advanced transit system.”

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 

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