City of Winnipeg opens bidding for rapid transit Stage 2

WINNIPEG – The city has released its request for proposals for the second phase of the Southwest Rapid Transitway to the University of Manitoba.

Pre-approved bidders can now submit proposals incorporating price, design and management plans for building and maintaining the rapid bus transit route from Jubilee Avenue to the south Winnipeg campus. The completed first phase runs from downtown to Jubilee; buses then move onto Pembina Highway.

The city short-listed three groups to bid on the project in March. They are:

• Plenary Roads Winnipeg, led by Plenary Group Canada, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. and Alberta Highway Services Limited (a division of ColasCanada Inc.);
• Red River Infrastructure Group, led by HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions North America, Inc., Ledcor Infrastructure Investments Inc., Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited, Ledcor CMI Limited, Ledcor Alberta Limited, AECOM and McElhanney; and
• WinnCity Transportation Partners, led by Aecon, Gracorp/Graham and BBGI.

The request for proposals is expected to close in spring 2016, the city said in a news release, with construction to start that summer. The nearly $600-million, 7.2-kilometre project won’t be finished until late 2019 and buses are expected to start running on it in April 2020.

The successful bidder will maintain the transitway for 30 years, at which point it will be turned over to the city.