Ontario LRT update: Hamilton; Kitchener-Waterloo
Two light rail new-starts in Canada’s Ontario province appear to be on diverging paths. Hamilton’s is at the RFP stage, while Kitchener-Waterloo’s opening has been delayed, again.
Metrolinx
Toronto LRT selects Aecon consortium
Mosaic Transit Group has been selected by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario as the preferred proponent for the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Toronto, Ontario.
LRT update: Hamilton, Ontario
Doug Ford, the newly-elected leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party and brother of the late, former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, has publicly promised to honor the $1 billion commitment of the current Liberal government to the Hamilton LRT project, should he become Premier in June 2018.
Finch West, Hurontario LRTs advance
The procurement process for two Metrolinx new-build light rail transit (LRT) projects in the GTHA (Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area) have advanced significantly.
Eglinton Crosstown surfacing in 2018
Work on Toronto’s 12-mile Eglinton Avenue Crosstown LRT, the city’s first such project, will break out onto the surface during 2018.
Metrolinx, Bombardier come to terms
The long-standing dispute involving Ontario, Canada transit agency Metrolinx railcar supplier Bombardier over delivery of 182 light rail vehicles has been resolved, after six months of negotiations.
RFQ for Metrolinx Lakeshore West GO corridor
Ontario and Metrolinx are proceeding with planned improvements for the Lakeshore West GO Transit corridor with the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
Twists and turns for Hamilton LRT
The Hamilton, Ontario LRT situation took another bizarre twist recently with Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency, agreeing very reluctantly to City Council’s request to have the local municipally owned transit agency, the Hamilton Street Railway, operate the LRT. The crosstown line project was scheduled to begin construction in 2019, and open by 2024.
Parsons secures Metrolinx ETCCS tech services contract
Parsons has begun providing technical advisory services for Metrolinx’s Enhanced Train Control and Conventional Signaling (ETCCS) project, part of the Canadian agency’s 10-year GO Transit regional/commuter rail expansion program consisting of C$13.5 billion in capital projects and $7 billion in state-of-good-repair works.
Ontario LRT facing hurdles
Two of Ontario, Canada’s numerous light rail transit projects—the Kitchener-Waterloo ION and Hamilton Street Railway B Line—have been facing difficulties, albeit of a different nature. The former is still without functional LRVs; the latter is looking at potentially conflicting operating proposals.