| p_xavier |
Oct 31, 2018 4:40 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Metro-One
(Post 8363347)
Cool, thanks for the link to those maps, they clearly explain this project.
I do have a couple questions though, how was this project able to start construction so fast? Seems like a lot to design and test work would be needed. (especially the underground portion). Was some of this already existing and just having the technology changed? How much is completely new?
For example the Vancouver Broadway Subway (phase one 6km) is now approved and has all funding in place, and despite years of soil / geological drill testing it will still take over another year (construction starting in 2020) for the project to have its designs finalized and a contractor selected. After that it will take 5 years to build...
So how can Montréal move so fast on this project?
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The Mont-Royal tunnel and Deux-Montagne line are being converted to metro-standard, which is 30km of the 67km planned. No new EAs were needed for this part. The other EAs were rushed to be completed before a shortened 60 days public audience. People complained at that audience that much of the fine details weren't known and the CDPQi replied that they're building the REM with a new mindset to have things built quickly. That opened the door to court actions.
The main reason for the project to become real so quickly (it's relative, it's basically a 1960s project with new lines) is that government procurement rules do not apply. Typically, a contract whithin a governmental organisation can take up to a year to give, the Caisse in more or less 5 months from announcement, completed most of the work with preferred partners. Also, planning work itself was done ahead of the April 2016 annoucement.
During the short-listing procurement process, remaining studies were done by the consortia. Even with the winning bidders, some analysis is still being done and changes are being made, opposite of usual government tenders where every nail is documented before construction starts. This is a similar approach taken by the-then Conservative government to build the Samuel-De-Champlain bridge : ask a consortium to design/build/finance and get things done ASAP. Heck, one or two stations' locations are not even known as of today for the REM.
Metrolinx in Toronto has taken the complete opposite approach where studies pile up, and most of them with short-staffed TTC. Hence it takes years and years to come out with plans that could be done in a couple of months with a different kind of procurement approach. Add that to lazy politics, too many open houses, NIMBYs and you don't build much.
There was many tentatives by unions to demonize and derail the REM in Montréal, since optimization is a new concept to transit. A judge called the bluff last year. the government also passed a law saying basically the project is a done deal, deal with it. Construction could have actually started last year but was delayed 6 months due to price negotiations and modifications to the initial routing. |
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