Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx issue RFQ for Eglinton Crosstown West Extension Stations, Rail and Systems contract

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have taken the first step in the procurement process for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE) project by issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Stations, Rail and Systems (SRS) contract.

The package of work will be procured through a progressive design-build contract model and will include architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical work for the seven stations along the extension from Mount Dennis to Renforth Drive, as well as outfitting the tunnels and the elevated guideway with track and signals. The package will also require installation, testing and commissioning of all rail and track components and systems equipment.

Along with the RFQ, the province of Ontario has released initial renderings to show early planning and design concepts for the ECWE stations.

The ECWE project is a part of the province of Ontario’s plan to deliver more reliable, rapid transit to communities in Etobicoke and Mississauga.

“By investing in our infrastructure, we are committed to significantly improving the daily lives of our citizens. The development of public transportation infrastructure in the Greater Toronto Area will improve the network’s accessibility, safety and efficiency”, said Sean Fraser, Canada’s minister of housing, infrastructure and communities. “These improvements will ensure more convenient travel for the Greater Toronto Area residents, contributing to a better quality of life for the entire community.”

Tunnelling work for the line extension began in 2022, with two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) digging east from the launch site near Renforth Drive to the extraction shaft at Scarlett Road.

The 9.2-kilometer (5.7-mile) Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is being delivered in four separate procurement contracts. The contracts include:

• The first advance tunnelling contract, which covers the underground segment of the line between Renforth Drive and Scarlett Road
• The second advance tunnelling contract, which covers the underground segment of the line between Jane Street and Mount Dennis Station
• The contract for the elevated guideway (managed by Metrolinx), which covers the above-ground section of the route between Scarlett Road and Jane Street
• The SRS contract

“For people who depend on transit to get to and from work and other important destinations, the seven-stop Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will be a game changer, connecting commuters from Renforth to Mount Dennis, Kennedy and beyond,” said Ontario Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria.

Once complete, the ECWE stations will create a more eficient, continuous rapid transit line from the east end of Toronto into Mississauga, Ontario, with an estimated 69,700 rides expected each day. The extension will also connect with other regional transit operators, including UP Express, GO Transit, Toronto Transit Commission and MiWay bus services.