The City of Ottawa and East-West Connectors (EWC) reached financial close on the Stage 2 Confederation Line Extension  (Light Rail Transit (LRT) Stage 2) PPP Project.

Stage 2 will extend the O-Train network farther south, east, and west, adding 44 kilometres of new rail and 24 new stations. On March 6, Ottawa City Council approved EWC to design, build and finance the Stage 2 Confederation Line East and West extensions and TransitNEXT to design, build, finance and maintain the Stage 2 Trillium Line South extension.

With the formal confirmation of the financial contributions of both senior levels of government, the City has reached financial close for the Confederation Line extension and has entered into a project agreement with EWC based on their submitted schedule and price. This milestone was achieved following the execution of the transfer payment agreements with both the federal and provincial governments in March, securing a total CAD $2.366 billion (US$ 1.76 billion) contribution to Ottawa’s Stage 2 LRT Project.

EWC is a consortium of design, engineering and construction companies with extensive experience with light-rail transit systems. Through a joint venture partnership, Kiewit along with VINCI Group and its affiliates will lead the overall project. Design engineering services will be provided by WSP Canada and Hatch Ltd.

The Confederation Line Extension Project is being delivered as a Design-Build-Finance (DBf) project at a cost of CAD $2.571 billion (US$ 1.91 billion).

In reaching financial close, the City of Ottawa and EWC have signed all the project and financing agreements, which enable access to funding and project implementation. The EWC team will begin to mobilize on-site, conduct geotechnical investigations and start site preparatory work in the coming weeks. Construction is anticipated to be complete for the Confederation Line East extension in 2024 and in 2025 for the Confederation Line West extension.

When complete, Stage 2 will bring 77 percent of Ottawa residents within five kilometres of fast, efficient, clean and reliable rail. The Stage 2 O-Train network will result in a fully grade-separated system that spans nearly 64 kilometres to include 41 stations, 85 vehicles and three maintenance and storage facilities.