SNC-Lavalin part of group to build Ottawa LRT

A group that includes scrutinized construction firm SNC-Lavalin has won the bid to build the $2.1-billion light rail project in Ottawa, CBC News has learned.

The Rideau Transit Group has been chosen to lead the largest construction project in the city's history, reported the CBC's Alistair Steele.

The group includes Montreal-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin, as well as ACS Infrastructure, an international group based in Spain, EllisDon Corporation, EllisDon Inc., Dragados Canada Inc. and Veolia Transportation Services Inc.

The Rideau Transit Group will oversee the design, financing, building and maintenance of Ottawa's new light rail system, which the city hopes to have complete by Canada's 150th birthday celebrations in 2017.

Their bid came in under the $2.1-billion budget, which was requiredby the City of Ottawa to be chosen to run the project.

City officials examined three separate bids for the design, construction timeline and final cost. Ottawa Transit Partners and Rideau Transit Partners also submitted proposals before the July 2012 deadline.

Bombardier among consortia to lose out on bid

VINCI led the Ottawa Transit Partners group that included, among other partners, Quebec-based Bombardier. Bouygues Travaux led the Rideau Transit Partners group, which also lost out.

Both groups will receive about $2 million for the work involved in bidding for the LRT project.

The details of the winning bid will be part of a report to city council for approval on Dec. 12 and 19.

The Rideau Transit Group does not currently include a train manufacturer and there are reports either Siemens or Alstom could be added to the LRT consortia.

Ottawa residents will be able tohave their sayon the winning bid throughout December with the first open house on Wednesday,which iswhen the official announcement will be made.

There will also be a public exhibit of the project until Dec. 19.The construction is projected to start sometime in 2013.