Waterloo LRT ION (Stage 1)
Location: Kitchener-Waterloo, ON
Status: Operational
Value of Partnership: $583 million (construction) and monthly performance-based availability payments during O&M period
Type of P3: DBFOM
Handback: 2049*
Awards: 2020 Gold Award for Service Delivery, National Awards for Innovation & Excellence in P3s
This 19-kilometre LRT system, which opened in June 2019, has transformed travel in one of Canada’s key high-tech startup scenes. The ION corridor in Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo area passes through two historic downtowns, a university campus and business parks and is fully integrated into the region’s bus network, cycling and pedestrian routes.
Using the P3 model achieved estimated cost savings of 12 per cent compared with traditional procurement. The project includes 19 stops plus an operations, maintenance and storage facility.
For the first year and a half of service GrandLinq and the OM&R provider Keolis improved system performance and met operating and maintenance targets, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The LRT system is fully integrated with, and forms the spine of, the existing Grand River Transit (GRT) bus network with multiple transfer nodes, coordinated schedules and a common fare structure.
*The operations period runs for up to 30 years (minimum 10 years, renewals every five years thereafter).
Partners: Regional Municipality of Waterloo and GrandLinq General Partnership (Plenary GrandLinq GP Inc., Meridiam Infrastructure Waterloo LRT ULC, Aecon GrandLinq GP Inc., Kiewit Waterloo Investors Corp., Keolis Waterloo General Partner Inc.)
Other Participants:
Public Sector: Infrastructure Ontario – Procurement Advisor; Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP – Legal Advisor; Deloitte LLP – Financial Advisor; P1 Consulting – Fairness Advisor
Private Sector: Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co. – Design/Builder; Aecon Construction and Materials Limited – Design/Builder; AECOM – Engineer of Record; Keolis Grand River L.P. – Operations, Maintenance and Rehabilitation Contractor; Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP – Legal Advisor; CIBC World Markets – Financial Advisor
