Metrolinx announces Big Purchase of Buses

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TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- NFYIF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Metrolinx, together with twelve municipalities, has just made the largest collective bus purchase in Ontario's history. New Flyer Industries Canada ULC and City View Bus Sales are projected to build and supply up to 160 buses.

"In the current economic climate, these newly-awarded contracts will support our economy by protecting Canadian manufacturing jobs," said Rob MacIsaac, Chair of Metrolinx.

"Getting more people onto transit will reduce pollution and congestion. I am pleased that Metrolinx has spearheaded the purchase of technologically advanced buses for small and medium municipalities," said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley. "Municipalities can decrease operating costs and improve service reliability, making transit a more attractive choice for their residents."

The twelve participating municipalities are: Barrie, Burlington, Cobourg, Durham Region, Elliot Lake, Hamilton, London, Milton, North Bay, Sarnia, St. Catharines and York Region.

Metrolinx facilitated a joint transit procurement initiative with its partners using common vehicle specifications and consolidating bus orders which could be valued at up to $70 million.

"By working collaboratively, we can obtain lower prices and reduced administrative costs associated with the procurement process. We are helping municipalities leverage government funding to invest in transit vehicles and thus improve transit service," MacIsaac continued. "It also allows us to consider factors such as environmental performance, fuel economy and advanced technology in a consistent and cost-effective way."

This is the first procurement of transit vehicles complying with the provincial Canadian content policy.

Metrolinx is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario. For more information, visit our website at www.metrolinx.com.

<< Disponible en francais BACKGROUNDER METROLINX TRANSIT PROCUREMENT INITIATIVE (TPI) >>

On Wednesday, December 17, Metrolinx announced the winning contracts for the 2009 joint transit bus procurement. The 2009 joint procurement is the largest collective bus purchase in Ontario's history.

The contracts for up to 160 buses - valued at up to $70 million - have been awarded to New Flyer Industries Canada ULC and City View Bus Sales. This is the first municipal bus purchase to comply with the Province's Canadian content policy.

<< - The key objectives of the TPI are to: - Reduce the unit costs of buses; - Reduce costs in the transit vehicle procurement process; - Improve scheduling and buying power for transit systems; and - Reduce uncertainty for manufacturers through longer production runs, predictability and performance-based specifications. - The TPI was transferred from MTO to Metrolinx in June 2008. - In August 2008, Metrolinx issued three separate RFPs on MERX for the following vehicle types to be delivered in 2009 and 2010: - 9-metre (30') low-floor urban diesel transit bus; - 12-metre (40') low-floor urban diesel transit bus; and - 12-metre (40') low-floor urban diesel-electric hybrid transit bus. - A rigorous four-stage evaluation process, facilitated by Metrolinx and carried out by the fleet managers from the participating municipalities was used to assess the proposals submitted by the bus manufacturers. Compliance with each stage of the review was required for proposals to proceed to the next stage of evaluation. - A Fairness Commissioner was retained to oversee each stage of the procurement process to ensure that the process was fair and open to all bus manufacturers. - The total value of these contracts is estimated to be worth up to $70 million in 2009. The contracts are for one year with an option year for 2010. - It is anticipated that some of the new buses will be used to provide expanded transit services, while others will be used to replace aging buses to provide more reliable service with fewer breakdowns. The expansion of services and increased reliability of new buses help to promote transit as a more attractive mode of transport in communities across Ontario. - The buses being ordered through the TPI will all be fully accessible, low-floor vehicles, improving the accessibility of municipal transit across the province. All buses purchased with provincial transit funding must be fully accessible. - The buses will also be capable of supporting the installation of advanced Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Disponible en francais BACKGROUNDER METROLINX >>

Metrolinx (the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) is a Crown Corporation of the province of Ontario. We were created to address the urgent need to improve and integrate transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA - the metropolitan region encompassing the cities of Toronto and Hamilton and the regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York).

Metrolinx operates within the legislative framework of the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority Act, 2006 and the province's Places to Grow - A Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx is the third component in the Government of Ontario's three-part strategy to prepare the GTHA for growth and sustained prosperity. This includes Places To Grow and the 1.8 million acre protected Greenbelt.

Metrolinx's mission is to create a state-of-the-art transportation system that moves people and goods efficiently, economically and in an environmentally sustainable manner. We are working to create an integrated transportation system for the GTHA that enhances the economy, the environment and our quality of life. Every Metrolinx project and program works towards improving existing transportation services or introducing new services.

<< As part of its legislative mandate, Metrolinx: - Provides leadership in the coordination, planning, financing and development of an integrated, multi-modal transportation network; and - Acts as the central procurement agency for local transit system vehicles, equipment, technologies and facilities on behalf of participating Ontario municipalities. Governance and Board of Directors Metrolinx is chaired by Rob MacIsaac and is staffed by experts in relevant fields. The 11-member Board of Directors includes representatives of four regional municipalities and the cities of Toronto and Hamilton. They are as follows: - Rob MacIsaac, Chair - Peter Smith, Vice-Chair - Roger Anderson (Durham) - Paul Bedford (Toronto) - Gary Carr (Halton) - Fred Eisenberger (Hamilton) - William Fisch (York) - Adam Giambrone (Toronto) - Norm Kelly (Toronto) - Hazel McCallion (Peel) - David Miller (Toronto) Disponible en francais >>

SOURCE: Metrolinx

Media contact: Jacquie Menezes, Senior Associate, Public Affairs and Media, Metrolinx, Phone: (416) 874-5923, Jacquie.Menezes@metrolinx.com, www.metrolinx.com

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