Crosstown LRT contract awarded

Crosslinx Transit Solutions has signed a $9.1-billion contract to complete the Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (Crosstown LRT) project, delivering the LRT by 2021.

Crosslinx’s winning proposal commits them to design, construct and finance an integrated transit system consisting of 25 stations/stops, trackwork, signaling, communications and other required infrastructure and maintain the LRT system for 30 years, including lifecycle repair and renewal of building and system components.

Though most construction work will be completed by early 2021, commissioning and training for the service will be carried out through to 2021 to meet the in-service date for the LRT. At the peak of construction, Crosslinx estimates that approximately 2,500 workers will work on the project and that 90 percent of the labor will come from the Greater Toronto Area.

“We are making great progress on the Crosstown and I am very pleased that we have reached this milestone,” said Steven Del Duca, Ontario’s minister of transportation. Providing light-rail transit across the city, we will help thousands of commuters get where they need to be, quickly and easily. The Crosstown is further proof of our commitment to manage congestion and keep the region moving.”

The Crosstown is a light rail transit line that will run across Eglinton Avenue between Mount Dennis (Weston Road) and Kennedy Station. The 19-kilometer corridor (12-mile) will include a 10- kilometer (6.2 mile) underground portion between Keele Street and Laird Drive. The 25 stations and stops will link to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines. It will include a maintenance and storage facility and operations and control center.

Crosslinx’s proposal includes fully accessible stations designed using Metrolinx’s principles of Design Excellence, upgrades to streetscaping, trail and pedestrian connections, including bike lanes.

Under separate Metrolinx contracts, tunnels and utility work began in 2011 and significant progress has been made with tunneling on the western segment between Black Creek Drive and Allen Road. When in service, the Crosstown will provide service that is up to 60 percent faster than bus service today.

“This is another important milestone in the delivery of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project,” said Bruce McCuaig, president and chief executive officer of Metrolinx. “We are now ready to move into the next phase of the project to build the Crosstown stations and stops, track and signal infrastructure and maintenance and storage facility to support the line. This is another example of the progress Metrolinx is making to transform the way the region moves by building a fast, convenient and integrated transit network across the GTHA.”