Edmonton’s Valley Line West LRT, a critical new Alberta transit project, is among the five winners of the 2021 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships.
The winning projects are located in Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Bermuda – marking only the second time in its history the awards have recognized an international project. All showcase how partners are continuing to adapt and refine the ‘made-in-Canada’ P3 model to create, deliver, operate and maintain innovative and transformative infrastructure for their communities.
“Despite another tremendously challenging COVID-19 pandemic year, it is inspiring to recognize the calibre of projects and partners that rose above these difficulties to reach financial close, begin construction, and successfully complete and begin to maintain or operate these critical infrastructure projects,” said Mark Bain, chair of CCPPP’s board of directors and partner at Torys. “Congratulations to all five winners of this year’s National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships.”
Gold Award, Project Development
Valley Line West LRT, Alberta
This $2.67-billion, 14-kilometre light-rail extension is the second stage of the City of Edmonton’s Valley Line. The design-build-finance project, which entered its RFP phase and reached financial close during the pandemic in 2020, bundles together design, system integration and construction into one contract. It also is the first to embed a community benefits agreement for a major capital project in Edmonton. With its 14 street-level stops and two elevated stations, the extension will help connect city neighbourhoods and reduce congestion, with LRT stops downtown, at all major city hospitals and the city’s largest tourist attraction, West Edmonton Mall. Once the west line is operational, both stages of the Valley Line will operate contiguously with no transfer points or perceived break in service for passengers despite the fact both are being delivered using different P3 consortiums, noted the awards committee.
Partners: City of Edmonton and Marigold Infrastructure Partners
The other four winners are:
- Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Ontario
- L.F. Wade International Airport Redevelopment Project, Bermuda
- New Adult and Mental Health Addictions Facility, Newfoundland and Labrador
- GO Rail Expansion – Highway 401 Rail Tunnels, Ontario
Presented by The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) since 1998, the prestigious awards will be presented virtually at P3 2021, CCPPP’s annual conference, on Wednesday, November 17. The winners of the 2021 Champion Awards will also be presented at this time.
