| Toronto Port Authority (TPA) shortlists Forum Infrastructure Partners team for Billy Bishop Island Airport Pedestrian Tunnel
April 4, 2011 TORONTO, April 4 /CNW/ - In August 2010, the Toronto Port Authority issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) to interested parties to indicate their interest in and qualifications for the proposed Billy Bishop Airport Pedestrian/Services Tunnel Project. In accordance with the terms of the RFQ, and with the participation of P3 Canada, the TPA shortlisted three qualified proponents that will be invited to participate in the next, and final stage of the selection process: the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage. The three consortia invited to bid on the project - Forum Infrastructure Partners, Elite Tunnel Group and City Airport Tunnel Partners - represent a cross section of leading local and international construction and design firms. These teams have been chosen from a group that originally exceeded 50 private sector proponents. "The project has attracted interest from a broad cross-section of well known Canadian, American and European proponents with the right combination of experience and financial capacity to partner with us," said TPA Chairman Mark McQueen. "The success of the revitalization of Billy Bishop Airport has brought about a delightful challenge - we need to ensure that our infrastructure lives up to the airport's popularity." The consortia have six months to submit proposals to the TPA for its consideration and review. The public-private partnership (P3) procurement process which the TPA is following, would reduce costs, ensure on-time and on-budget delivery of the project, and enhance the potential for innovations in public infrastructure. McQueen reiterated that the tunnel would be paid for by passengers who use the popular Billy Bishop Airport. As previously announced, 100 per cent of the cost of design, building, financing and maintaining the tunnel will be ultimately borne by departing passengers via Billy Bishop Airport's existing $20 Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). For comparison purposes, each passenger at Pearson International Airport currently pays an AIF of $25 per departing flight. In 2010, approximately 1.2 million passengers used the airport, an almost 50 fold increase in five years. The TPA is expecting more than 1.5 million passengers in 2011. The TPA's professional advisors include Dillon Consulting, NORR Architects, Hatch Mott MacDonald, Brookfield Financial, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Gowlings LLP, P3 Canada, Marsh Canada and P1 Consulting. Backgrounder Consortia for Proposed Pedestrian Tunnel Forum Infrastructure Partners is a consortium comprising members, Forum Equity Partners Inc., PCL, Arup, Trow, Technicore Underground and ZAS Architects. Forum is a development and investment company specialising in P3 transactions, PCL is a Canadian construction industry leader; Trow is one of the largest engineering and consulting firms in Canada; Arup is a full service design consultant working in more than 35 countries; Technicore is a specialist in the tunnelling industry; and ZAS is a Canadian architectural firm, with expertise in public infrastructure. Elite Tunnel Group is a team of six companies with extensive Canadian and international expertise. It includes Macquarie Capital Group Limited, a global provider of banking and investment services; McNally Group of companies, an expert on heavy civil projects with expertise in tunnelling and marine construction; Morrison Hershfield, a Canadian owned consulting firm; Golder Associated Limited, an engineering firm with expertise in ground engineering and environmental services; Scott Associates Architects, a Toronto-based firm, with an international reputation in aviation facilities design; and the State Group Inc, one of North America's leading multi-trade contractors and facilities management companies, based in Toronto. City Airport Tunnel Partners (CAT) is a joint venture between Fengate Capital and Aecon Concessions. Fengate Capital is an investment management firm that manages investments in infrastructure, and Aecon Concessions is the infrastructure and investment arm of Aecon Group, Canada's largest publicly trade construction and infrastructure development company. Aecon Concession is joined by Honeywell Limited Canada, which offers comprehensive maintenance and repair services. For further information: |
