Posted on February 28, 2024
A consortium consisting of Aecom and Arcadis has been appointed to design a new tunnel and the underground stations of the Ontario Line.
The Pape North Connect Team, the name of the consortium, will provide design services for the Pape Tunnel and Underground Stations (PTUS) contract for the planned metro in the Canadian city.
Webuild and Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada are also part of the consortium but both companies are leading on the construction section of the PTUS contract. This portion is worth $700M-$1.3bn (£552M-£1bn).
Being managed by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx, the Ontario Line will see a 15.6km stand-alone rapid transit line constructed to improve access and reduce daily travel time for Toronto commuters.
The scope of work for the PTUS contract includes construction of 3km of twin tunnels underneath Pape Avenue between the Gerrard tunnel portal and the Don Valley bridge, two underground stations, three emergency exit and service buildings, and a crossover in the section of the tunnel near Sammon Avenue.
The Ontario Line project will include the construction of 15 stations, six intermodal hubs and more than 40 connections with existing subway, streetcar, light-rail transit and regional rail lines and bus services.
According to Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx, the project is expected to generate thousands of job opportunities annually during construction and ensure that more than 227,500 Toronto residents will be within a 10-minute walk of an Ontario Line station.
The PTUS contract is being procured under a Development and Master Construction Agreement with Metrolinx. This agreement incorporates a multi-stage design process called the development phase that allows for a collaborative approach between Metrolinx and Pape North Connect to finalize the scope, risk allocation and pricing of various contract elements.
Aecom Canada region chief executive Richard Barrett said: “Our world class tunneling expertise and transit design capabilities are contributing to our competitive advantage on large-scale projects, we are thrilled to be expanding our involvement on the Ontario Line.
“We look forward to collaborating with Metrolinx to deliver this enduring legacy that will provide more frequent and reliable access to transit, while reducing traffic congestion, fuel consumption and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”
Aecom global transportation business chief executive Mark Southwell “With this project win Aecom will now be providing technical design leadership for the full length of the approximately 10km tunnel works and the three complex interchange stations along the Ontario Line Subway.
“Our team of technical transportation experts is proud to continue supporting Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx on this critical investment in the future of public transit in Toronto, bringing expanded and modernized transportation to thousands of commuters.”
Arcadis global president of mobility Greg Steele said: “The PTUS contract is an exciting example of the ability of our mobility, resilience, and places experts to deliver nuanced solutions that address the needs of our client at every stage of their project lifecycle.
“Given the impact transport can have on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it’s encouraging to see major cities around the globe invest in their public transport systems, and we’re grateful to be selected to participate in creating greener, more connected cities.”
Arcadis Canada mobility business area director Shangeeta Snape added: “Arcadis is honored and extremely excited to deliver this highly complex and critical contract for the Ontario Line project alongside the construction joint venture and our design partners.
“As a leading global organization delivering sustainable design and consultancy solutions for our clients, Arcadis is committed to the joint delivery team, the contracting authority and the public to elevate the positive impact on urban transportation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that embody the objective of this program.”
