The provincial government of Ontario is moving forward with a light rail extension as part of a multi-billion dollar effort to expand public transit in the province. Officials issued a request for qualifications March 25 for the fourth and final contract on the estimated $3.5 billion Eglinton Crosstown West extension.
The project will add about 5.7 miles to Metrolinx’s 11.8-mile Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which is slated to open later this year. The first section of the line will include 25 stations on a route connecting east and west Toronto through downtown. The extension, already under construction, would extend the line beyond the original western terminus at Mount Dennis and add seven more stations going to Etobicoke and Mississauga. About 4 miles of the extension would be underground, with most of the remainder expected to be elevated.
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario plan to award a progressive design-build contract for the final piece of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. The scope of action would include the construction of the seven stations, the installation of tracks and systems, road modifications and other works. Responses to the RFQ are due by June 21.
“With the start of the acquisition of the stations, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension rail and systems contract, and the tunnels progressing every day, we are even closer to helping people travel quickly and efficient between Toronto, Mississauga and Etobicoke,” Michael Lindsay, president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, said in a statement.
West End Connectors tunneling work on the first P3 contract of approximately $540 million began in April 2022. West End Connectors is a team of Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Dragados Canada Inc. and Ghella Canada Ltd. with design by TYPSA Inc. and EXP. Services Inc. Contractors are using two tunnel boring machines, and Metrolinx officials said last month that the first eastbound tunnel boring machine is halfway through the planned 3.7 miles covered by the contract.
In December, officials selected Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc. for the second phase of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, which includes the design and construction of a nearly 1-mile elevated guideway. Metrolinx has not shared the cost of the work. Work on the guide is expected to begin at the end of the year.
The third contract includes the design and construction of a 1,640-foot-long tunnel at the east end of the extension. Metrolinx selected Strabag Inc. last month for the work, though officials have not shared cost details.
Map courtesy of MetrolinxThe Eglinton Crosstown LRT and its western extension would connect with other bus and rail lines along its route, and Ontario officials say they expect it to accommodate about 69,700 daily trips. Phil Verster, president and CEO of Metrolinx, said in a statement that the new stations along the extension would bring transit stops within walking distance of about 37,500 people.
Ontario officials have pledged to invest the equivalent of more than $50 billion over the next decade to improve public transportation. The 9.7-mile Ontario Line subway is also under construction. Officials also have plans to extend additional subway lines and are considering another extension of the Eglinton Crosstown line to connect with Toronto Pearson International Airport.
