TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2013 - Together with Metrolinx and The Regional Municipality of York, Infrastructure Ontario released a request for qualifications (RFQ) to pre-qualify and short-list companies to deliver the next phase of York Viva Bus Rapid Transit (vivaNext) rapidways in the cities of Vaughan and Markham.
The expanded vivaNext rapid transit system will make it easy to travel in and around York Region and connect to other transit systems across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
In Vaughan, the next phase of vivaNext rapidways will include approximately 12 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes on Highway 7 with nine median stations and one curbside station. It will run from about Helen Street to Interchange Way/Edgeley Boulevard, and from Bowes Road to Yonge Street via the existing Centre Street and Bathurst Street Viva route.
In Markham, the next phase of vivaNext rapidways will include approximately two kilometres of rapidway along Simcoe Promenade and YMCA Boulevard with two curbside stations. Flexibility will be built into the design to allow for coordination with future development in Markham Centre.
The RFQ is the first step in the competitive tendering process to select a company to design, build and finance dedicated bus lanes, stations and boulevards. A copy of the request for qualifications document is available at www.merx.com.
These vivaNext rapidway segments will be delivered using an alternative financing and procurement (AFP) delivery model – a public-private partnership model – that research shows provides time and cost savings.
Teams shortlisted from the RFQ process will be invited to respond to a request for proposals, expected to be released in summer 2014.
Infrastructure Ontario is responsible for managing the AFP procurement process for these segments of the vivaNext rapidways. Once the AFP contract is awarded, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) will continue to project manage all day-to-day construction operations and York Region will operate YRT/Viva service. Metrolinx will retain ownership of the assets.
The York Viva BRT project received $1.4 billion (2009) from the Government of Ontario, and is an example of The Big Move in action – Metrolinx’s 25-year plan to implement a common vision for transportation in the GTHA. The project is being implemented by Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario. For more information about Metrolinx, visit metrolinx.com.
Infrastructure Ontario is a crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario’s alternative financing and procurement model to more than 80 major projects valued at approximately $42 billion dollars. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) is responsible for the planning, design and construction of the full vivaNext rapid transit network and related infrastructure to deliver on the transit priorities set out in the York Region Transportation Master Plan. YRRTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary and share capital corporation of The Regional Municipality of York. The vivaNext plan is a key component of the vision outlined by Ontario’s Places to Grow Act, which aims to manage growth in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way that enriches communities. For more information, please visit vivanext.com.
Quotes:
“Expanding vivaNext service here in York Region is proof of our government’s commitment to improve public transit for commuters all across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Our government’s unprecedented public transit investments continue to make transit a better choice for commuters, reducing congestion on our roads and contributing to a better quality of life for Ontario families.”
— Glen Murray, Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure
“Our government is committed to supporting the development of efficient public transit in Ontario. Once complete, the vivaNext rapidways will get commuters where they need to go sooner, allowing us to spend more time with those people who matter most. Our transit investments will help build better communities, support our economy, and improve overall quality of life across Vaughan and the entire province.”
— Steven Del Duca, MPP, Vaughan
“This project is part of the more than $16 billion in major transit investment underway to implement The Big Move and shows clear progress toward the goals of alleviating congestion on our roadways and improving the efficiency of public transit in the GTHA. York Region has been a strong transit improvement partner and we look forward to continuing the good work of building much-needed transit service for commuters in this region.”
— Bruce McCuaig, Metrolinx, President and CEO
“We’re making great progress towards achievingYork Region’s rapid transit plan. Together with the Government of Ontario, we are continuing to invest in a modern rapid transit system that will provide those living, working and visiting York Region with more convenient, reliable transportation options and continuous economic growth.”
– Bill Fisch, York Region Chairman and CEO
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For further information: Paulette den Elzen, Infrastructure Ontario, 416-327-5764, paulette.denelzen@infrastructureontario.ca;Vanessa Thomas, Media Relations, Metrolinx, 416-202-5974, vanessa.thomas@metrolinx.com; Dale Albers, York Region Rapid, Transit Corporation, 905-886-6767, dale.albers@york.ca