The City of Calgary has signed a fixed priced agreement withPlenary Infrastructure Calgary LP to design, build, finance and maintain the Stoney Compressed Natural Gas Bus Storage and Transit Facility for Calgary Transit (Canada).
Plenary Infrastructure Calgary LP was chosen preferred bidder after extensive evaluations following an open, fair and competitive request-for-proposals process that began in August 2015.
The Plenary Infrastructure team includes:
The new facility will provide storage and maintenance space for Calgary Transit's new fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as well as diesel buses that are currently stored outside the City's other bus garages. The new facility will be capable of housing a minimum of 424 buses, 36 maintenance bays, two steam bays and an on-site compressed natural gas fuelling infrastructure. The facility will also support diesel bus operations, recognizing the transition period needed to introduce CNG buses into Transit's fleet. A suitable location has been identified for the new facility in the Stoney industrial area in north-east Calgary.
The capital cost for this Project is approximately CAD174 million (US$132 million). The Federal Government, through PPP Canada, has committed to an investment of up to CAD48.4 million (US$36.7 million) towards the construction of this facility.
Construction is expected to begin in September 2016 with anticipated completion in early 2019. A special groundbreaking event is scheduled for October 4.
Once the facility has been constructed and is operational, Plenary consortium will receive a substantial completion payment, followed by a series of monthly payments from the City over a 30-year period. The monthly payments will cover janitorial services, routine facility and landscape maintenance, as well as major maintenance and rehabilitation of the facility for the duration of the 30-year contract. City staff will continue to service and maintain the buses.
Malcolm Logan, the City's General Manager of Transportation, said:
"Investments in transit are amongst the best investments any city can make-they are investments in the environment, reducing congestion, and improving social mobility. Ultimately, they are investments in improving everyone's quality of life and The City of Calgary is pleased that construction can now begin."
Mike Marasco, CEO Plenary Concessions stated:
"Plenary Infrastructure is excited to partner with The City of Calgary in this unique and historic project which allows Calgary Transit to expand its facilities to better serve Calgarians. We are looking forward to building and maintaining this important facility for the next 30-plus years."
The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities stated:
"Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and our society. Well-planned infrastructure generates economic growth, supports communities and leaves a lasting legacy for Canadians. The Federal Government is very pleased to be partnering with the City of Calgary on this very important project."