Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The $2.1 billion Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project has been awarded the 2013 Gold Award for Transportation Innovation from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.
The award recognizing the innovative procurement model employed by the City of Ottawa and Infrastructure Ontario and the resulting contract to design, build, finance and maintain the Confederation Line was presented Nov. 17 at the 16th annual Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships’ (CCPPP) Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships gala in Toronto.
Nancy Schepers, Ottawa’s deputy city manager of planning and infrastructure. and Antonio Estrada, CEO of Rideau Transit Group (RTG) accepted the award on behalf of the city and RTG.
“Infrastructure Ontario has worked very closely with the City of Ottawa and Rideau Transit Group to ensure the Confederation Line is both a testament to innovation and the best value for our citizens,” said Glen Murray, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation. “This award is a reflection of the Province of Ontario’s commitment to building world-class infrastructure that is accessible, affordable and sustainable.”
RTG CEO Antonio Estrada said the consortium’s members are world leaders in transportation infrastructure. “We are very proud of our partnership with the City of Ottawa and look forward to delivering one of most exciting and innovative transit systems in North America.”
CCPPP president and CEO Mark Romoff called the project “an inspiration to the P3 community across Canada.
“This project will make a huge contribution to the greater Ottawa area. Once finished, it will increase transit ridership, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion, while improving accessibility, creating jobs and stimulating economic development.”
