Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have finally selected Crosslinx Transit Solutions as the preferred proponent to carry out the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project in Ontario, Canada.

The Crosslinx Transit Solution group is a mix of Canadian and international partners, including SNC-Lavalin, ACS Infrastructure Canada, EllisDon, Aecon, Dragrados Canada, and IBI Group. The team beat the competition from Crosstown Transit Partners, a consortium composed by Fengate Capital Management Ltd., OHL Concesiones S.A., STRABAG Inc, Bechtel Development Company, Inc., and Obayashi Canada Holdings, Ltd.

The Eglinton Crosstown is a light rail transit line that will run across Eglinton Avenue. The 19-kilometer corridor will include a 10- kilometer underground portion between Keele Street and Laird Drive. It will have 25 stations and stops, linking to bus routes, three subway stations and various GO Transit lines. It is the single-largest transit project in the province's history.

The winning consortia will be responsible for the design, build, finance and maintenance of the stations and trackwork over a 30-year period.

The Eglinton Crosstown LTR, which is part of Metrolinx's regional transportation plan to reduce congestion, represents an approximate CAD$5.3 billion (US$4.31 billion) transit improvement investment.

The exact cost of the project, design details and expected construction schedule will be announced publicly following financial close this summer, signaling the contract has been awarded and signed.

Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure of Ontario, stated:

"The Eglinton Crosstown project demonstrates our bold vision to invest in transportation infrastructure across Ontario. This significant project will spur economic activity in the Toronto region, creating hundreds of jobs, reducing congestion, and helping us build a more prosperous province for future generations."

Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO at Metrolinx, commented:

"For Metrolinx, the Eglinton Crosstown project represents a significant investment in expanded transit for Toronto, and a new integrated line that will change the way people travel across the city. We are pleased with the progress we have made and look forward to the next phase of delivering this important project."

We have recently reported about several PPP projects in Canada:

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• Calgary composting facility
• Casey House facility replacement
• Roberts Bank Terminal 2