Basic Information

Reference Number

0000222315

Issuing Organization

Infrastructure Ontario

Owner Organization

Infrastructure Ontario

Project Type

RFQ - Request for Qualifications (Formal)

Project Number

20-233

Title

RFQ DBF Advance Tunnel for Yonge North Subway Extension Project

Source ID

PP.CO.ON.591493.C80139

Details

Location

Canada, All of Canada, All of Canada

Description

Subway Program – Overview

The Province of Ontario’s New Subway Transit Plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area contemplates $CAD 28.5B in new subway construction in the Toronto area along four priority subway projects (collectively, the “Subway Program”). The Subway Program includes:

The Ontario Line, a new ~15.5-kilometer rapid transit line running between the Ontario Science Centre and Exhibition/Ontario Place;
A three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, a 7.8-kilometer extension of Line 2 from Kennedy Station;
The Yonge North Subway Extension, extending Line 1 from Finch Station to Richmond Hill Centre; and
The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, a 9.2-kilometer extension of the under-construction Eglinton Crosstown LRT Line from Mount Dennis to Renforth Drive, with a possible connection to Toronto Pearson International Airport

Yonge North Subway Extension – Overview
The Yonge North Subway Extension (“YNSE”) will extend the TTC’s Line 1 subway service approximately 9.0 kilometers from the existing Finch Station into the City of Richmond Hill. This is a cross-jurisdictional project spanning the City of Toronto and York Region, including sections within the City of Markham, the City of Richmond Hill, and the City of Vaughan.
The YNSE will include a ~ 6.3 km underground segment that travels along Yonge Street north of Finch Station, curving eastwards to reach Bay Thorn Drive, and continuing to the east before turning northwards, where the alignment generally follows the existing CN Rail right-of-way, to a portal structure (just south of Langstaff Road) where the subway alignment emerges to grade. It then continues at the surface for ~2.7 km along the CN Bala/GO Richmond Hill corridor until slightly north of 16th Avenue. The YNSE will include two Primary Stations/Transit Hubs, Steeles Station (underground) and Bridge Station (at-grade), one complementary Urban Core Station, High Tech Station (at-grade) and two underground Neighbourhood Stations – Royal Orchard Station and Clark Station. There is the potential for an additional underground Neighbourhood Station (Cummer Station) subject to future funding. This critical rapid transit link will also include a train storage facility located at the north end of the surface segment, alongside the CN Rail corridor, between Bantry Avenue and approximately just north of 16th Avenue.
The announced funding envelope for the YNSE Project is $CAD 5.6B and the target revenue service date is 2030. The YNSE project will be delivered by way of an advance tunnel contract (the “Advance Tunnel Contract”, or the “Project”), followed by subsequent contract(s) to construct the stations and other permanent facilities, and install and commission the systems (referred to as the “Stations, Rail and Systems” or the “SRS Contract(s)”). The Advance Tunnel Contract will be delivered as a P3. Specifically, the delivery model for the Advance Tunnel Contract will be design-build-finance.

In addition to the two main contracts, the Sponsors intend to carry out enabling works at Finch Station, and CN track work (self performed by CN). The enabling works at Finch Station will entail, among other things, electrical modifications and back of house rooms modifications, and support systems to support infrastructure required to integrate the YNSE with the existing Line 1. The RFQ for the enabling works at Finch Station was issued on December 14th, 2021. The CN track work self-performed by CN will include relocation of utilities and existing CN infrastructure, CN track diversion and track resurfacing. This work will create space for the construction of the launch shaft for the tunnelling works and ground improvement / replacement activities which will be required to minimize the risk of major settlements or disturbances to the adjacent CN tracks. Further, where possible, the Sponsors will seek to complete preparatory works in advance of the Advance Tunnel Contract as applicable.
This project will strengthen the regional transportation system by extending additional subway service into York Region with key connections to urban growth centres, major development, and key regional transit networks such as VIVA Bus Rapid Transit, GO Highway 7 and Highway 407 bus and GO Richmond Hill rail. The YNSE will provide seamless travel for those travelling between York Region and Toronto while reducing travel times, reducing traffic congestion, and facilitating more people moving between Toronto’s downtown business district and Richmond Hill Centre.
The Province of Ontario is pursuing a “Transit Oriented Communities” (TOC) program to build vibrant, higher density, mixed-use communities that are connected to transit stations. For the Subway project, the TOC program will be implemented at new subway stations, by partnering with third-party development partners to build new communities integrated with subway stations on the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Benefits of TOC include:

Increasing transit ridership and reducing traffic congestion
Increasing housing supply (including affordable housing) and jobs
Catalyzing complete communities based on good planning principles
Offsetting the cost of station construction which would save taxpayers’ money
Stimulating the economy through major projects for years after COVID-19

Advance Tunnel Contract – Description

The Advance Tunnel Contract package includes all tunnelling and related activities necessary to build the tunnel along the prescribed alignment, including the delivery of twin tunnels (metro size 5.6 m internal diameter), with launch and extraction shafts, utility relocations, headwalls for stations and emergency exit buildings (“EEBs”) and temporary support of excavation for EEB’s, as required.
The YNSE reference alignment requires that two Tunnel Boring Machines (“TBM”s) be launched from a temporary launch shaft located south of Langstaff Road East and adjacent to the CN rail tracks. The shaft will be located immediately west of the CN rail tracks and north of a location where the TBM tunnels run at shallow depth below the CN tracks for a distance of approximately 430 m. Given the TBM tunnels are located below the CN tracks, as part of the Advance Tunnel (AT) contract, a design solution has been developed whereby the CN tracks would be temporarily diverted to the east, thereafter the Advance Tunnel contractor will be required to undertake ground improvement / replacement works so that the TBM tunnelling can be undertaken without risk of major settlement or disturbance below or adjacent to the CN tracks.
The Advance Tunnel (AT) Package includes, but is not limited to:

All tunnelling activities necessary to build the bored tunnel along the prescribed alignment through a minimum of 300m radius curves
Design and procurement of TBMs
Design, manufacturing, and installation of precast concrete tunnel liners (“PCTL”s)
Design and construction of launch and extraction shafts
Design and construction of prescribed headwalls for Emergency Exit Buildings (“EEB”s) and stations, as required
Design and construction of support of excavation (“SOE”) for Emergency Exit Buildings (EEBs), as required
Utility work including relocation and support in place of existing utilities
Protection of existing utilities and structures where needed
Clearing and grubbing (removal of debris/obstructions) at location of Tunnel launch shaft
Provisioning of access roads for construction laydown areas and work areas
Construction of CN Right-of-Way separation barriers to expedite safe corridor access and construction
Ground improvement / replacement under and adjacent to CN tracks and York Durham Sewage System.
Prescribed treatments for noise and vibration mitigation during construction of the tunnel, in the construction zone of influence

For clarity, Project Co will not be responsible for any works related to the Stations, Rail and Systems, and will not be responsible for such works pursuant to the Advance Tunnel Contract.

It is noteworthy that the final decision on the additional Neighborhood Station is expected by summer/fall 2023, and an addendum will be issued during the RFP in-market period as required. The Reference Concept Design issued as part of the RFP will assume the inclusion of the additional neighborhood station, Cummer Station. The removal of Cummer station will result in the exclusion of the required headwalls and associated civil works and a minor adjustment to the tunnel alignment to minimize impacts to existing utilities in the area.

Relevant High-Level Design and Construction Challenges/Constraints:

The Sponsor anticipate that the primary major construction challenges and constraints for the Project include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project schedule;
Construction under the Royal Orchard neighborhood and Yonge Street right-of-way;
Performance of work around (and under) sensitive areas and structures, including: St Anthony’s Elementary School and other nearby elementary/secondary schools, CN Rail corridor – York Subdivision, Holy Cross Cemetery, CN Rail corridor – Bala Subdivision, York Durham Sewage System, Enbridge Gas pipeline, East Don River (EDR) culvert structure and nearby residential properties. In particular, the Sponsors anticipate that Project Co will be required to:

protect all existing infrastructure from deformation, settlement, and structural failure throughout the duration of the Project;
perform all works with minimal disruption to normal operations of existing bus transit services and CN Rail services.
Traffic management during construction, including communications, diversions, closures, detours, signal changes, impacts to property owners in order to maintain bus operations, and traffic and pedestrian safety;
Installation of support of excavation at depths greater than 40 metres;
Disposal of excavated material in accordance with Ontario Regulation 406/19 - On Site and Excess Soil Management.

In addition, the Advance Tunnel Contract PSOS will be prescriptive, without limitation, with respect to the following elements in order to facilitate the delivery of the SRS Contract:

Horizontal and vertical track and tunnel alignments;
Twin Bored Tunnels with internal diameter of 5.6 m;
Station headwalls for use as support of excavation (“SOE”) by the successful proponent for the SRS (“SRS Project Co”) Contract. The details will include the location, design, and depth of the toe of the piles and the elevation of the bottom of excavation;
EEBs temporary support of excavation and excavation of EEB 2, 3, and 4;
Location and orientation of launch and extraction shaft side walls for use as SOE by the SRS Project Co;
Certain utility works required in contemplation of the SRS Contract;
Work within the CN Rail corridor including interface with CN and limits of movement;
PCTL orientation at Cross Passage (CP) locations. CP construction is by SRS Project Co, thereby Project Co needs to ensure proper precast concrete tunnel liner orientation at CP locations; and
Ground Improvement at York Durham Sewage System.

Dates

Publication

2023/04/27 08:45:15 AM EDT

Bid Intent

Optional

Bid Intent Deadline

2023/05/26 11:59:00 PM EDT

Question Acceptance Deadline

2023/06/26 11:59:00 PM EDT

Questions are submitted online

Yes

Closing Date

2023/07/27 02:00:00 PM EDT

Other

2023/05/08 01:00:00 PM EDT

Contact Information

Helen Kozovski

Helen.Kozovski@infrastructureontario.ca

Pre-Bidding Events

Event Type

Applicants' Meeting

Attendance

Recommended

Event date

2023/05/08 01:00:00 PM EDT

Location

Live Webcast Webinar

Event Note

The “Applicants’ Meeting(s)” shall be held at the following time on
May 8, 2023:
Time: 1:00 p.m. Toronto local time
Location: Live Webcast Webinar - MS Teams

See more

Bid Submission Process

Bid Submission Type

Physical Bid Submission

Additional Bidding Instructions

Applicants shall submit their Prequalification Submissions to the Sponsors using the Electronic Submission and Evaluation System.

Applicants are reminded that pre-registration for the Electronic Submission and Evaluation System (AWARD) is required. Please see the User Guide uploaded as part of the Documents on MERX.

Applicants are requested to register in AWARD under their Applicant name for the purpose of submitting a Prequalification Submission via the Prequalification Submission - Portal.

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