1.0     INTRODUCTION 

The City of Mississauga (“City”) is looking to prequalify Bidders for the 7km priority segment of the Dundas Bus Rapid Transit project between Confederation Parkway in the City of Mississauga to the City of Toronto boundary at Etobicoke Creek (“D-BRT Project” or “Project”). 

This Notification is to provide the industry with a better understanding of the City’s vision for the Dundas Street corridor, and sufficient details about the D-BRT Project itself to allow interested parties to gauge their interest and to facilitate discussions around potential partnership and teaming arrangements.

2.0   STAGES OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS:

The City has selected Design-Build (DB) as the preferred delivery model and will be undertaking procurement/delivery through one continuous procurement process consisting of the following:

• Stage 1 - Request for Prequalification (RFPQ) Issued: Q1 - 2023
• Stage 2 - Request for Proposals (RFP) issued to the shortlisted Respondents Issued: Q3 2023
• Contract Award: 2024

3.0     BACKGROUND

In 2018, the City completed the Dundas Connects Master Plan, which established the vision for this corridor within the City including the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) facilities and enhanced urban realm elements. 

The City and Metrolinx have been working together to complete Environmental Assessment approvals for the entire Dundas Street corridor between Kipling Station in the City of Toronto to the Village of Waterdown, in the City of Hamilton, but have specifically advanced approvals for a 7km priority segment between Confederation Parkway to the City of Toronto boundary at Etobicoke Creek, within the City of Mississauga as noted above.

On April 27, 2022, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a Notice to Proceed with the Dundas BRT Mississauga East transit project in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08. As the final step of the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), Metrolinx and the City have issued a Statement of Completion in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08.

In March 2022, the City received funding approval of approximately $300 million under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) to support the design and implementation of this 7km priority segment.

4.0      PROJECT INFORMATION

Project Objective:

The Project is recognized by Metrolinx and the City, as well as members of the public, as a regional transit priority connection. The Project is a crucial transportation corridor connecting people through Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The corridor has varied traffic, land use conditions and constraints. Without improved transport alternatives, the overall livability and economic development potential of the corridor, including future developments, would be constrained. 

Bus Rapid Transit provides an efficient rapid transit alternative at-grade system with the following features: 

• Dedicated lanes for buses, where feasible, resulting in shorter travel times and more reliable transit service;
• Frequent bus service i.e. every five minutes or less during peak hours;
• Smart traffic signals for more even traffic flow for all users – on buses, in personal vehicles, and on bicycles;
• MiWay, GO Transit, and other transit system routes can use the dedicated bus lanes and share the same bus stops; and

Implementation of the Project is anticipated to result in: 

• Faster, more reliable public transit;
• A reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
• Improved connectivity; and
• Support growth through the facilitation of transit-oriented communities.

The Project is currently a Priority-in-Development project under the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan. 

Project Scope:

Dundas Connects Master Plan (2018) established the vision for this corridor within the City including the introduction of BRT facilities and enhanced urban realm elements that will ultimately form part of the broader planned multi-modal Regional transportation system proposed by Metrolinx.

The 7km priority segment of the D-BRT Project has a western limit at Confederation Parkway and continues eastward towards Hurontario Street, where it will intersect with the Hurontario Light Rapid Transit (LRT) line currently under construction. Continuing east from Hurontario Street, the Project will cross over Cooksville Creek Culvert located at Jaguar Valley Drive and the Hensall Circle and Canadian Pacific Railway overpass located between Burslem Road to the west and Cawthra Road to the East, and then cross over the Cawthra Road overpass and continue along Dundas Street crossing over another two structures, the Little Etobicoke Creek Culvert and the Etobicoke Creek Bridge which represents the eastern limit of the Project corridor and also boundary with the City of Toronto. 

To meet design requirements, including those of the City, the Transportation Association of Canada, Metrolinx and others, the design will generally establish a roadway cross section of four general-purpose traffic lanes, two in each direction, two dedicated median BRT lanes and an enhanced boulevard space. Through lanes will be 3.35 metre in width, while curb lanes will be 3.5 metre in width as a minimum. The road will be designed to a design speed of 70 kilometres per hour and a posted speed of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour. 

The BRT will be located in the median, between each set of general-purpose traffic lanes, and consist of two 3.5 metres dedicated bus lanes (one in each direction), raised median between the bus lanes and general-purpose lanes, 3.6 to 4.2 metre wide by up to 70 metre long far-side platforms at all stops and a 0.3 to 0.5 metre buffer between the platform backwall and adjacent general-purpose lane from Kirwin Avenue to the East. 

The boulevard space will generally consist of a 2 metre wide sidewalk, a 0.6 metre to 2.0 metre pole/furniture & planting zone and a 2.0 metre protected cycle track. Where constraints exist, the sidewalk and cycle track will be replaced with a multi-use path with a minimum width of 3.0 metre.

The scope of planned improvements between Confederation Parkway and Kirwin Drive  are currently being reviewed given the constrained right-of-way and the potential costs/impacts related to land acquisition.  Final details will be communicated through the applicable procurement documents and background information during the First Stage of the procurement process, Request for Prequalification (RFPQ) and the Second Stage, Request for Proposal (RFP).

The following Project components are contemplated:

• Design and construction of the BRT and/or public realm improvements along the Dundas Street corridor in dedicated median-running bus lanes from Confederation Parkway to the Etobicoke Creek.
• Transit priority measures including signage, traffic signal phasing, as well as queue jump lanes.
• An Intelligent Transportation Systems strategy including stop design, fare system and traveller information coordinated with municipal and regional service providers.
• Implementing design considerations for protection of future technologies i.e. electrification, autonomous vehicles, etc.
• BRT stops with two platforms, one far side platform for each direction of travel at each of the designated stop locations.
• MiWay stop local shelters and enhanced shelters at specified locations along the corridor.
• BRT stop amenities will generally consist of Accessibility for Ontarians and Disabilities Act features, including ramps, railings tactile and warning strips, wayfinding signage including location and stop name, next bus information, fare collection, benches and seating, service maps, weather protection, garbage and recycling receptacles and arts and cultural heritage elements.
• Turning lanes at key intersections (to accommodate left turns and U turns), addition of active transportation facilities including protected cycle tracks, multi-use-paths and widened sidewalks.
• Stormwater management system improvements and utility relocations to be carried out to allow for the widened corridor and for future proofing.
• There are five existing bridge and culvert structures within the project limit which may require replacement/rehabilitation as a result of the widening of the corridor, as well as their current state and/or hydraulic capacity. Summary of the assessments for each of the structures can be found in the publicly available Environmental Project Report (EPR).

Note that the design requirements are based on a preliminary design which form the basis of the TPAP process but are expected to evolve as the reference concept design is being finalized and as DB procurement documents are developed.

Due-Diligence Status: 

The City is currently coordinating activities with the Regional Municipality of Peel and various utility owners, with respect to the completion of due diligence activities, as well as the timing for planned utility relocations and others works to be completed in advance of the Dundas BRT Design-Build.  Further details on the status of due diligence work, including land acquisition will be provided during the RFPQ and RFP stages.

The City intends to provide (ASCE 38-02) Subsurface Utility Engineering investigations for all utilities detailed below:

• Gas (Transmission and Distribution) – Field Designated to Quality Level B, with isolated plants depicted as Quality Level D (based on records) where utility could not be field verified. 
• Oil (Pipelines) – Field Designated to Quality Level B, with isolated plants depicted as Quality Level D (based on records) where utility could not be field verified. 
• Electricity (Transmission and Distribution) – Field Designated to Quality Level B, with isolated plants depicted in Level D (based on records) where utility could not be field verified (for buried distribution/ service cables). All overhead wires are Quality Level D (for HV transmission and MV/LV distribution/service).
• Sewers (Storm and Sanitary) – Field Designated to Quality Level C where chamber is field accessible and pipe is measurable from the surface, with isolated pipes depicted as Level D (based on records) where utility could not be field verified.
• Watermain - Field Designated to Quality Level B, with isolated plants depicted as Quality Level D (based on records) where utility could not be field verified. 
• Communications - Field Designated to Quality Level B, with isolated plants depicted in Level D (based on records) where utility could not be field verified (for buried distribution/ service cables). All overhead wires are Quality Level D.

The City intends to provide ground water data from 43 monitoring wells and soil analytical results from 128 soil samples taken from 108 boreholes from early 2022. Legal survey limits and a 2021 topographical plan of the Project is also intended to be provided.