[Adjei]

Why don't these guys give a preliminary estimate of the date of completion and work from there as they get more info to make a more definitive date? Instead of alluding to 2020 all this time, they should have give a range from 2020-2023 and then as they get more definite timelines, then give the public a more definitive date of completion.

 

[barit]

I forgot to mention that they also have to widen the 2 bridges that cross the East and West branches of the Don River.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Why don't these guys give a preliminary estimate of the date of completion and work from there as they get more info to make a more definitive date? Instead of alluding to 2020 all this time, they should have give a range from 2020-2023 and then as they get more definite timelines, then give the public a more definitive date of completion.

I think 2020 is meant to be interpreted "by the end of 2020". That's usually how these deadlines are determined.

What that means is that the ECLRT could be finished anywhere between now and 2020. Maybe even tomorrow

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

From the Daily Commercial News, at this link:

Second phase of Eglinton Crosstown project to be unveiled

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is preparing to enter the second phase of the $5.3 billion Eglinton Crosstown project this summer with the selection of the winning bidder and the release of more details about the cost and schedule

"We are still in the procurement phase and haven't announced a preferred proponent," said Lisa DiMenna, IO communications advisor.

"The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a design-build finance maintain P3 contract that is currently in procurement. The RFP closed earlier this year and we have evaluated it. So, we are finalizing the details and preparing for financial close, which we are anticipating for this summer. The Crosstown is a light rail transit (LRT) line that will run across Eglinton Avenue between Mount Dennis (Weston Road) and Kennedy Station. This 19-kilometre corridor will include a 10-kilometre underground portion, between Keele Street and Laird Drive."

The project contracts for the tunneling and the transit system have been split into two parts.

Metrolinx and IO released the request for proposals in December 2013 to the consortia who pre-qualified to build the balance of the project. Crosslinx Transit Solutions and Crosstown Transit Partners were invited to submit formal proposals.

"These two teams had a year to prepare their bids," said DiMenna.

"There were a lot of changes over the course of the year in the design of the stations, the trackwork, signaling and all the components to build the LRT."

In addition, they must demonstrate how they will maintain the system over a 30-year period as well as finance the multi-billion dollar project. The project is expected to open in late 2020.

Despite the fact that the winning consortium has yet to be named, The Canadian Press recently reported that Crosslinx Transit Solutions was selected by IO and Metrolinx as the preferred bidder group.

The consortium includes SNC-Lavalin, Aecon, EllisDon, Stantec, ACS Infrastructure Canada, Dragrados and IBI Group.

If this report is true it means the losing consortium was Crosstown Transit Partners, which included Fengate Capital Management, OHL Concesiones, STRABAG, Bechtel Development Co. and Obayashi Canada Holdings.

"After financial close, we will post the project agreement, as well as the value for money report," said DiMenna.

"In large part this is the RFP from the government and the final contract. Details of the project will be shared publicly at the financial close, once the agreement is signed."
Currently, the project is reported to have 25 stations and stops, linking to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines.

There are a number of major considerations for station design, including accessibility, development potential, integration with surrounding communities, and management of construction disruption.

At Eglinton West Station (Allen Road) and Eglinton Station (Yonge Street) the Crosstown line will be built to cross underneath the existing subway lines.

Seventeen traction power substations are proposed along the Eglinton Crosstown LRT with an average of 1.5 kilometre spacing for the surface sections and 2.0 kilometre spacing for the underground sections.

The Crosstown represents a $5.3 billion (2010) transit infrastructure investment, which is the largest in the history of the region.

 

[Palma]

Unlikely. Metrolinx has stated moret hat the schedule would be updated when they achieve financial close with the preferred bidder. I'd expect at that time we'll get a realistic update on the schedule.

Presumably the schedule is part of the discussions on cost with the preferred bidder.

You would think the Liberals would want the whole line (or at least the underground portion) up and running before the next election or right during that time for all those photo ops

 

[nfitz]

You would think the Liberals would want the whole line (or at least the underground portion) up and running before the next election or right during that time for all those photo ops

Next provincial election is October 2018. Eglinton has no change. Spadina probably. Eglinton might have a chance by October 2022.

I don't think the October 2018 election has any bearing whatsoever on the Eglinton line time frame.

 

[ehlow]

You would think the Liberals would want the whole line (or at least the underground portion) up and running before the next election or right during that time for all those photo ops

It's not like they can somehow speed up construction by years..

 

[Edward Skira]

They could but the cost would be enormous.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

It's not like they can somehow speed up construction by years..

With enough money, they probably could. For example, building more stations at once and starting work on the surface section ASAP.

 

[cplchanb]

With enough money, they probably could. For example, building more stations at once and starting work on the surface section ASAP.

Could they do what Tory did on the Gardiner and push more money for an earlier completion? Thats the biggest downside with the lowest bidder, in most cases it equates to longer construction/procurement periods.
I wonder if it would be better in the long run to take a larger initial hit financially but start to regain the money much earlier...

 

[wopchop]

Advancing the schedule by four years would require an insane amount of extra money. Easily in the billions.

 

[Tuscani01]

How about opening the Western portion first? (Though it sounds like we won't even have the vehicles to run on the tracks by 2018 anyway)

 

[howl]

With enough money, they probably could. For example, building more stations at once and starting work on the surface section ASAP.

The main time constraint is that they can't just shut down the whole street completely for three years. They can only close down portions of the street, complete the work and then move to the next portion. Since most of the stations are under the intersections it not only affects Eglinton but all the cross streets as well.

 

[crs1026]

How about opening the Western portion first? (Though it sounds like we won't even have the vehicles to run on the tracks by 2018 anyway)

Theoretically? They could (I'm making extravagant assumptions that things like the carshop and station at the Spadina line could be advanced and finished on an expedited basis).

Practically, I doubt it would advance things much - too much procurement is likely all-in and can't be advanced. For instance, once they start manufacturing signalling components, they will likely produce enough for the whole line in one production run, and install and test it as a system. Same with sub-contracts for things like escalator installations and such. And you could only open to Spadina, since the TBMs will converge at Yonge St. A fairly small benefit if only that section is open.

Biggest issue is, it would be politically inconvenient since it would let one side of the city carp about the other side getting a better deal. The western side really isn't savvy of the timeline, so they aren't likely to get up in arms about having to wait like the east side. Better politics if it all opens together and we are one city, east to west.

In terms of rushing to make points for the election - don't kid yourself. Our politicians seem quite able to manufacture photo ops without anything substantive actually happening. Having a real ribbon cutting is not that critical to anyone's election campaign.

- Paul

 

[ehlow]

How about opening the Western portion first? (Though it sounds like we won't even have the vehicles to run on the tracks by 2018 anyway)

I was talking to Metrolinx people and based on what they said the underground stations themselves, especially the interchange stations (Yonge-Eg and Eg West), will take up till the completion date to finish.