Ontario Construction News staff writer
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario have announced details of a new project alliance agreement for the Union Station Enhancement Project, signalling the next official phase of the massive renovation project.
Construction is expected to start early this year and be completed in fall 2025.
The USEP was procured as an ‘alliance’ contract – the first major project in Canada to be procured using this model — an innovative procurement and delivery method recognized for delivering successful initiatives in Australia in the past 20 years.
In November 2020, the Union Station Enhancement Project entered the Alliance Development Agreement (ADA) phase to develop the design, schedule, and cost of the project. As a result of this collaborative process, on Jan. 31, the Project Alliance Agreement (PAA), the next official phase of the procurement side of this project, was signed, awarding the project to ONTrack Alliance and positioning them to break ground.
The ONTrack Alliance team includes:
- Constructors: Kiewit – Alberici Union General Partnership
- Designers: WSP Canada Inc.
- Signalling Work: Mass. Electric Construction Canada Co.
Work will be completed in stages, including the glass atrium, removing heritage steel, installing overhead lighting, a new south concourse, widening platforms, increasing stair and elevator access, and upgrades to passenger communications systems. Construction will build transit infrastructure and upgrades at the southernmost part of Union Station, including:
- Construction of two new platforms.
- New stairs and elevators.
- A new continuous south concourse connecting the York, Bay and VIA concourses, Union Square and Scotiabank Galleria.
- Creation of two new south tracks.
“We are very glad to see this project moving into major construction in February,” said Trevor Anderson, program sponsor for Union Station. “This project will enhance access and connectivity at the station, providing great benefit to our customers, our stakeholders, and users of Union Station.”
According to Metrolinx, an Alliance Contracting Model was chosen to ensure the ability to address risk constructively and collaboratively. Other benefits of the alliance model include greater transparency and cooperative decision-making.
Additionally, the model “encourages partners to work collaboratively, engage in joint decision-making, and fosters a cooperative culture of finding the best for project solutions.”