A joint venture led by Systra has won a US$79m technical services contract to prepare a tram system linking the Canadian capital Ottawa in the province of Ontario to the city of Gatineau directly across the Ottawa River in the province of Quebec.
The Groupe Porteur JV was appointed by the Société de transport de l’Outaouais. French infrastructure group Egis and local construction consultant EXP are the JV’s other two members.
When finished in 2035, the 24km tramline – called TramGO – will stitch together the fast-growing western districts of Gatineau with its city centre and downtown Ottawa.
It will have 37 stations and four intermodal exchanges.
Planners chose a tram over a rapid bus system because the former has up to five times the passenger capacity, and the population of Gatineau’s west end is expected to grow 50% in the next 25 years.
Working with architectural firms Richez Associés and Provencher Roy, Groupe Porteur will help the TramGO project office with technical and environmental studies, procurement, construction work supervision, and commissioning.
Egis chief commercial officer in Canada, Jean Steenhouwer, said the JV would submit a work plan in the second quarter.
Technical and environmental studies for the route on Quebec territory will also begin then.
Systra Canada’s executive vice president Samuel Derosiaux said: “Together, we are committed to offering citizens an efficient, sustainable and innovative transportation system that is perfectly integrated into the urban environment of the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa.”
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The post Consultants picked to lead Ottawa-Gatineau tram project appeared first on Global Construction Review.