Browsing Transit

West LRT Line $35 million over budget

Calgary’s city council has learned that the West LRT, 30 on the Top 100 list, is currently $35 million over budget and that figure is expected to climb. The projected cost of the project was $1 billion, but the revised cost is expected to be closer to $1.3 billion. Primarily, the cost overruns are being [...]

Metrolinx announces updated plans for Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT

Ontario’s public transit agency, Metrolinx, has released a report that establishes how it will proceed with construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. After Toronto Mayor Rob Ford unilaterally cancelled Transit City, the Ontario government, through Metrolinx, agreed to put all of the transit money dedicated to Toronto into one project, the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT. This [...]

Toronto Council Votes for LRT on Sheppard

On March 22, Toronto’s city council voted 24-19 to build light rail transit (LRT) on Sheppard Avenue East. The two options council was presented with were: use the available $1 billion to build two new subway stops at the existing Sheppard subway line, or build a 13 kilometre LRT from the end of the existing [...]

Expert Panel Recommends Toronto Adopt LRT Over Subway

A panel created by Toronto’s city council recommends that the city develop light rail transit along the Sheppard corridor. The panel was created on February 8th and was charged with developing a report that identifies the most appropriate method of transit development along Sheppard Avenue. The panel considered three options including: light rail transit, a [...]

The Drummond Report: Recommendations for Transit and Transportation

As much as the Drummond report explicitly outlines the transportation and transit challenges facing the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, it offers few actionable recommendations for improving the financial situation of these sectors. Yet, there are a number of useful comments, many of which infrastructure watchers are already well aware of. Importantly, Drummond highlights the [...]

Wilson Facility Enhancement and Yard Expansion

$500 million 2012 Rank: 60 2011 Rank: New Sector: Subway Location: Toronto, Ontario Owner: Toronto Transit Commission Key Players: Engineer: AECOM (consulting engineer, design) Project/Construction Manager: AECOM (project manager) Funding: Public Description:   The existing Wilson Yard facilities are designed for storage and maintenance of two/four car consist subway trains. The new fixed six-car Toronto [...]

Waterloo LRT

$818 million 2012 Rank: 36 2011 Rank: New Sector: LRT Location: Waterloo, Ontario Owner: Region of Waterloo Key Players: Other: AECOM, MMM (EA); Hatch Mott MacDonald Funding: Public Description: After a lengthy debate about whether to adopt light rail or rapid bus technology for regional public transit, the Region of Waterloo decided that light rail [...]

Radiation Alarm Triggers Evacuation at Point Lepreau Nuclear Plant

A spill of deuterium laced heavy water triggered radiation detection equipment at the Point Lepreau Nuclear facility in New Brunswick. The alarm prompted an evacuation of the reactor building where the spill occurred. The facility is in the last stages of a $1.4 billion refurbishment, which has so far gone $1 billion over budget, and [...]

West Toronto Diamond/Rail Grade Separation Project

$277 million 2012 Rank: 93 2011 Ranking: 88 Sector: Transit Location: Toronto, Ontario Owner: GO Transit (a division of Metrolinx) Key Players: Project/Construction Manager: CN Rail (construction manager—advance piling, supplier: material for advance piling contract); McCormick Rankin Corporation, a member of the MMM Group (construction management, contract administration) Engineer: Delcan (engineer of record) Other: Delcan [...]