Aecon-led consortium tapped as first negotiations proponent for part of GO Expansion program
A public-private partnership consortium led by Aecon Group has been tapped as the first negotiations proponent for a significant downtown Toronto construction project.
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario indicated on February 23 that they had selected ONxpress Transportation Partners as the first negotiations proponent, and EnTransit as its second negotiations proponent. The EnTransit group is led by SNA-Lavalin and Siemens in joint venture.
The teams have been shortlisted for the GO Expansion On-Corridor Works package, a project to electrify and transform the GO rail network into a system that will deliver two-way, all-day service.
The GO Expansion program is unprecedented in its scale and complexity – the first of its kind in Canada. The largest and most complex element of the program is the GO Expansion On-Corridor Works package, a single, innovative, fully integrated contract to provide a higher level of service on the GO network.
Metrolinx and IO are entering into the start of the negotiations stage with ONxpress Transportation Partners to confirm the technical and financial details proposed in their bid.
If the negotiations are successful, ONxpress Transportation Partners would proceed towards commercial close, which is expected in the coming months. Early works and a two-year collaborative development phase are expected to start in the second quarter of 2022, with operations and maintenance anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2024.
The winning proponent would be responsible to build the infrastructure associated with the project and operate and maintain its trains for 25 years.
"We are pleased to bring our preeminent and multidisciplinary expertise to this transformational project," said Jean-Louis Servranckx, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aecon Group Inc. "This is one of the largest transportation investments in Canada and we are proud to work with Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx and our partners to deliver this world-class, sustainable project."
The GO Expansion program will deliver 15 minute or better, all-day service on the core GO rail network.
That means a train turning up every 15 minutes or less in each direction at every station between Union and Burlington on the Lakeshore West Line, Union and Bramalea on the Kitchener Line, Union and Bradford on the Barrie Line, Union and Unionville on the Stouffville Line, and Union and Oshawa on Lakeshore East.
This will transform the way this region will move and will make it easier for customers to connect and get where they need to go.