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Did the FinchWestLRT project just dodge a bullet?

In February of 2018, 3 consortiums were shortlisted to bid on the FWLRT project. In the end Mosaic Transit Group was award the transit project. However, if Humber Valley Transit Partners (SNC-Lavalin) was chosen would that have impacted the FWLRT project in any way?

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Three teams have been shortlisted to bid on Toronto’s Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, according to a release from Infrastructure Ontario.

The three consortiums included:

Humber Valley Transit Partners

  • Developers: SNC-Lavalin, Graham
  • Contractors: SNC-Lavalin, Graham
  • Service Provider: SNC-Lavalin, ACI
  • Financial Advisor: National Bank, Scotia Capital


Mosaic Transit Group

  • Developers: ACS, Aecon, CRH
  • Contractors: ACS, Aecon, CRH
  • Service Provider: ACS, Aecon, CRH
  • Financial Advisor: RBC Capital Markets


FACT Partners

  • Developers: EllisDon, Bechtel
  • Contractors: EllisDon, Bechtel
  • Service Provider: EllisDon, Bechtel, Herzog Transit
  • Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital
 
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Edllguy said:
Did the FinchWestLRT project just dodge a bullet?

In February of 2018, 3 consortiums were shortlisted to bid on the FWLRT project. In the end Mosaic Transit Group was award the transit project. However, if Humber Valley Transit Partners (SNC-Lavalin) was chosen would that have impacted the FWLRT project in any way?
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Not sure why it would be an issue. SNC-Lavlin were just selected as part of the team to build the next phase of the Ottawa light rail expansion just a few days. https://obj.ca/article/city-picks-snc-lavalin-kiewit-and-vinci-36b-light-rail-expansion
 
From link:

Metrolinx building new GO station, called Highway 27-Woodbine, in Etobicoke

New station will serve as replacement for Etobicoke North, which is set to be torn down

Metrolinx will build a new GO Transit station next to Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, the regional transit authority and province announced Wednesday.

The new station will be constructed just west of Highway 27, about two kilometres north of Dixon Road. Given its location, the stop will be called Highway 27-Woodbine.

Woodbine Entertainment Group, the corporation that owns and operates the racetrack, will also be on a partner on the project.
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Details of the station were revealed by Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek and Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster at a news conference at the racetrack.

The planned work is part of a years-long GO service expansion that will also see Etobicoke North station, located just a few kilometres to the east, torn down. According to Metrolinx, some 625 GO riders consider Etobicoke North their "home station." Of those, about 71 per cent drive to the station and park.

The new Highway 27-Woodbine station is expected to accommodate those customers, as well as new ridership generated from a planned "entertainment complex" on the Woodbine Racetrack grounds that will include a bigger casino, retail spaces, a concert venue, restaurants, office space and two hotels.

According to a report published by Metrolinx in November 2018, the station will have 790 parking spots, a pick-up and drop-off lot with space for 45 vehicles and a bus loop with enough space for four buses.
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"Given the low densities of the surrounding area and the predominantly industrial land uses, it has been assumed that the majority of station users will arrive either by car or by transfers from other public transit routes," the Metrolinx report said.

Metrolinx notes that Humber College, University of Guelph at Humber and Etobicoke General Hospital are all within a 3.3-kilometres radius of the site of the new station.

Metrolinx also says that the station could be used to connect "several existing and proposed rapid transit services, including the UP Express and a potential future Finch West LRT extension."

The project is expected to cost between $95 and $120-million to build.
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From the last quote: Metrolinx also says that the station could be used to connect "several existing and proposed rapid transit services, including the UP Express and a potential future Finch West LRT extension."
 
Damn etobicoke north is my wife's station. Hopefully eglinton west gets to kipling to make up for its loss.
 
INTz said:
There's a new render for the Finch West LRT underground stop at Finch West Station

https://twitter.com/x/status/1107734890450055168
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So they’re designing a one storey station entrance building that will have the height of a two storey building, and they’re not going to build a condo/office tower on top? Please plan for more development on lands for redevelopment.
 
Leo_Chan said:
So they’re designing a one storey station entrance building that will have the height of a two storey building, and they’re not going to build a condo/office tower on top? Please plan for more development on lands for redevelopment.
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3933 Keele St. has been listed as part of the city's affordable housing plan: http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2019/02/toronto-city-council-approves-affordable-housing-now-plan

Whether it is possible or not to introduce housing on that lot is a whole new question as the tank farms nearby introduce problems with sensitive land uses. It's all covered in the Keele Finch Plus area study.
 
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Quoted from today's Toronto Star

Metrolinx scraps portion of Hurontario LRT in effort to cut costs
By Ben SpurrTransportation Reporter
Thu., March 21, 2019

The province’s transit agency is scaling back plans for a major transit line linking Brampton and Mississauga in order to cut costs.
In a statement released Thursday morning, Phil Verster, the chief executive officer of Metrolinx, announced changes to the Hurontario LRT that he said were intended “to offer riders a more convenient route and alleviate potential budget pressures.”

Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster says the changes to the Hurontario LRT were intended “to offer riders a more convenient route and alleviate potential budget pressures.” (RANDY RISLING/TORONTO STAR FILE / RANDY RISLING/TORONTO STAR FILE)

The changes include removing the proposed loop around Mississauga city centre, and eliminating three stops. That would shorten the LRT by about two kilometres and leave it with 19 stops. The line is still intended to run between Port Credit GO station and the Brampton Gateway Terminal.
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I'm personally grateful that the Finch West LRT was not considered for scaling back. Maybe because all the design work is basically completed by Mosaic Transit Group and the main construction is about to start any week now. Also, the 2.5 billion contract was signed before the Conservatives took office.

However, what can you scale back on Finch West LRT? You could eliminate some stops, however, all the early works and designs are completed. So maybe FWLRT just barely escaped a scaleback.


Any thoughts on this?
 
At the corner of keele and finch they are on both north-east and south east sides drilling holes every day this week. Getting ready to start major construction very soon I suppose.
 
innsertnamehere said:
Finch is safe because the contract has already been executed with the consortium.
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Indeed. This is not dissimilar to what we saw on Finch West after the RFP was issued, when they made some design changes, including remove the link into Humber College and instead building a station further away.
 
I came here after the Hurontario news expecting everyone to be in a down mood predicting Finch to get axed completely. I’m legitimately surprised that Ford isn’t killing every LRT in sight.

Still, I’ll only believe the Finch LRT is happening when trains start rolling along Finch Ave.
 
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