Vancouver: TransLink Solicits Expressions of Interest for LRT Line

104 Avenue, Surrey, British Columbia © British Columbia Emergency Photography (licence)

The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) is soliciting expressions of interest (EoIs) from potential contractors for the delivery and operation of the Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail Transit (SNG-LRT) project in the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

The 11-year project will include a 4-year design and construction phase and a 7-year operation and maintenance phase. The project will be delivered via a short-term Public-Private Partnership. The contractor will be expected to design, finance, and build the line, and provide the rolling stock. After the line opens the contractor will operate it for the first 7 years of service. Then TransLink will assume responsibility for operations and maintenance.

Up to three candidates will be short-listed and invited to submit bids in the Request for Proposals (RFP) process during 2019. The preferred contractor will be selected later in the year. Construction on the project is expected to commence during 2020.

Potential bidders must demonstrate the following capacities in their EoIs:

• Maintain, operate and rehabilitate the project assets: light rail vehicles, LRT systems, tracks, stops, drainage and other facilities
• Manage incident response, regular, emergency and winter maintenance for the line
• Meet required standards for quality, health and safety, communications, engagement and environmental responsibilities
• Plan, implement and work collaboratively to ensure the successful assumption of operations by TransLink

 The cost of construction is expected to be approximately CAD $400 million and the contractor will be responsible for financing a portion it. Payments during the construction phase will be mostly correlated to progress and a substantial sum will be paid upon completion. Payments during the operating phase will be performance-based and depend upon capacity to fulfil other requirements.

Potential bidders who are successfully short-listed for the RFP, but not offered the final contract will be compensated for costs incurred during the process.

Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail Transit

The SNG-LRT is the first light rail transit project in British Columbia. The system will provide 10 kilometres of street-level light rail transit between Surrey City Centre, Newton and Guildford. The project is part of the Phase Two Investment Plan in the 10-Year Vision for TransLink’s Regional Transportation Strategy. Other rapid transit projects in the investment plan include upgrading the SkyTrain Expo Line and extending the Millennium Line.