Ontario Construction News staff writer
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario have chosen the firm HDR to be the technical advisor for the $10.9 billion Ontario Line subway project in Toronto.
This nearly 16-kilometre, free-standing subway line, with 15 proposed stations, will run from Ontario Place/Exhibition Place through downtown Toronto to the Ontario Science Centre. When complete, the new line will serve fast-growing areas, relieve crowding on existing transit, and accommodate nearly 400,000 daily boardings.
HDR (Henningson, Durham and Richardson) is a global company with 10,000 employees and more than 200 offices. It was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in 1917 by H.H. Henningson as the Henningson Engineering Company, becoming HDR around 1953.
“For over a century, HDR has partnered with clients to shape communities and push the boundaries of what’s possible … our engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services bring an impressive breadth of knowledge to every project. Our optimistic approach to finding innovative solutions defined our past and drives our future.”
The Ontario Line will provide relief to TTC’s Line 1, serve fast-growing areas such as Liberty Village, and bring transit to under-serviced priority neighbourhoods like Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park.
“The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is experiencing unprecedented growth, and expanding the transit system is essential to connect people to jobs, schools and their communities. The Ontario Line represents an exciting investment for Toronto, one that will not only provide relief for the existing subway system but will also create connections with the existing and planned transit network,” said HDR Senior Vice President Tyrone Gan, principal-in-charge on the project.
“Our team is committed and excited to be part of such an important infrastructure project in Canada.”
HDR and its primary partners, Mott MacDonald, Stantec, Systra and Comtech, will provide a wide range of planning, engineering, environmental, design and construction oversight services with the goal of successful, timely project delivery. Initial planning and design work has already begun for the Ontario Line. This assignment will add to HDR’s already extensive transit portfolio, including iconic projects in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Dallas, Honolulu, Denver and more.
“The Ontario Line is a critical link to enhancing regional mobility and will be life-changing for the citizens of Toronto,” said HDR Global Transit Director Tom Waldron. “I couldn’t be prouder that HDR has been entrusted by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx with such a critical role on such an important project.”