Achi news desk-
The province announced another step forward in the construction process for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension – a 9.2 kilometer addition to the yet-to-open Eglinton LRT.
In a press conference on Monday, Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the province has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the design and construction of seven new stations along the extension.
The contract includes all the architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical work for the stations, as well as dressing the tunnels and the elevated rail with track and signals.
“Across the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, we’re investing billions of dollars in public transit transformation,” Sarkaria said.
“Our government knows that transport keeps people moving and is a key driver of economic growth, connecting people not only to jobs, but also to friends and family, medical appointments, school and so much more.”
The line is being built through four contracts. Today’s announcement relates to the fourth contract, with the first three relating to tunneling and the elevated viaduct, which is the above ground section of the route between Scarlett Road and Jane Street.
Tunneling started in 2022 with almost five kilometers already completed.
The extension will start at Mount Dennis station in the east, running through Etobicoke to Renforth station in the west, with the potential for a future link to Pearson International Airport.
The transport minister faced questions in the announcement about the timetable and overall cost of the extension. He said they have learned lessons from previous projects and are focusing on the procurement process, but the province is spending $70 billion over the next decade on transportation projects.
WATCH | Officials provide an update on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension:
The provincial government announced Monday that it has begun the procurement process for the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension light rail. Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says this move marks another step towards the construction of the yet-to-be-opened Eglinton LRT.
Cameron MacLeod, executive director of CodeRedTO, a transit advocacy group, said he is not surprised the full cost was not provided.
“Unfortunately, when it comes to the Eglinton Crosstown, we have seen that previous predictions did not pan out,” he said.
“There are new things that have to be incorporated, and that’s a normal thing that happens … It doesn’t necessarily mean that the project is a failure.”
In a news release, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx said they will evaluate submissions to ensure teams have the relevant experience and financial ability to undertake a project of this size and complexity.
Around 69,700 rides are expected on the line each day.
“Today’s announcement is another sign of progress in providing good, reliable transit across the city,” Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement.
“I hope we can soon have thousands of people filling these stations and excited about exploring all the amazing things Mount Dennis and the surrounding communities have to offer.”
The announcement comes after years of delays for the Eglinton LRT, the 25-stop, 19 kilometer line that runs from Kennedy Station in the east to Mount Dennis station in the west.
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster provided an update on the project Monday, saying all major construction is now complete.
“But what worries me the most is the software defects in the signaling and train control system and rectifying those defects,” he said. “They’re making good progress with it, but it’s not as fast as we’d like it to be.”
The other major concerns are the retention of outstanding certificates of occupancy, he said, and the system integration tests, which are now 50 percent complete, up from 15 percent in December.
Verster said the transit agency will provide an opening date for the Eglinton LRT three months ahead of time.
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