Finch LRT in the works as Ontario government kicks of procurement process
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Government issues request for qualification on 11-kilometre, 18-stop project
TORONTO—The Ontario government is moving forward with plans to build a light rail project on Finch West Avenue. Ontario and Metrolinx have issued a request for qualification, calling on parties interested in designing, building and financing the project.
The government said the project is part of a priority transit investment in the City of Toronto that will bring much-need transit to communities along Finch Avenue and support the province’s plan to build an integrated transportation network from Toronto to Hamilton.
“As part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario’s history, the new LRT, located along Finch Avenue West in the city’s northwest end, will be integrated with the city’s existing transit system,” the government said.
The Finch West Light Rail Transit project will consist of 11 kilometres of dedicated rapid transit between Humber College and the Finch West subway station, a new stop scheduled to open on the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension. The network will contain 18 surface stops and a below-grade interchange station to connect with the new Finch West subway station. A storage facility to maintain and house the light rail vehicles will also be built.
“The project will help transform Finch Avenue West into a vibrant community, accessible to motorists, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians. The LRT will provide service that is faster, more frequent and reliable than the existing bus service by traveling in dedicated lanes with signal priority at intersections,” the government said.
The Ontario government did not release an estimate about the project’s cost, but noted it is part of the Moving Ontario Forward plan, which will commit $31.5 billion to infrastructure over the next 10 years, $16 billion of which will be earmarked for rapid transit projects in Toronto and Hamilton.
“Modernizing infrastructure will support more than 110,000 jobs a year on average in construction and related industries,” it said.
