In November 2022, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx, both Crown agencies of the province of Ontario, reached financial close of the Ontario line subway project with the Connect 6ix consortium being awarded the Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance project (RSSOM) and the Ontario Transit Group being awarded the Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel (South Civil) project. This marks the completion of procurement for two of the four segments that comprise the entire Ontario Line Subway Project. It is anticipated that procurement for the third and fourth segments involving construction of a tunnel, stations and elevated guideways at the north end of the line will be completed in 2025.
The Ontario line will be a 15.6-kilometre new rapid transit line running between the Ontario Science Centre and Exhibition/Ontario Place in Toronto, with 15 stations, including six interchange stations. The new line will provide more than 40 connections to other bus, streetcar, light-rail transit and regional rail (GO Transit) services.
This is the first subway project to take place in Toronto in the last 50 years and is the largest public transit project to take place in Canada to date. The total costs of the project (including construction costs, financing, long term maintenance, operating and lifecycle costs) are approximately $9 billion for the RSSOM project, $6 billion for the South Civil Project and $2 billion to $4 billion for North Civil for a total of $17 billion to $19 billion.
Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg LLP represented Ontario Transit Group with a team led by Will Buchner.
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP represented Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx for the entire Ontario Line project with a team that included Brian Kelsall, Tom Barlow, Ella Plotkin, Sean Morley, Marc Lefler, Zackary Burashko, and Aaina Grover.
McMillan LLP acted as counsel to the finance parties in connection with credit facilities for the South Civil project, with a team led by Julie Han and Candy Saga and supported by Brent Thomas, Shahen Mirakian and Rachael Girolametto-Prosen.
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP acted as counsel to the senior debt providers to Connect 6ix consortium in connection with the RSSOM project with a team led by Chris Bennett and supported by Marta Rochkin, Malcolm Peck-McQueen and Madeleine Blouin (Financial Services), Tobor Emakpor, Marissa Kirsh, Sam Muise (Commercial), Michael Innes, Sandra Malcolm, Wesley Cohen (Securities), Lisa Mantello, and Jasmyn Lee (Derivatives).