confederation line memo to council, q1 2015

M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C E

To / Destinataire Mayor and Council File/N de fichier: From / Expditeur Steve Cripps, Director

Rail Implementation Office

Subject / Objet Confederation Line Quarterly Update Date: May 12 2015 The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on the implementation of the Confederation Line Project as of March 31, 2015. Overall Progress The project continues to be on time and on budget. Construction at several sites has advanced according to schedule and the project remains on track for substantial construction completion in late 2017 with system commencing revenue service in Spring 2018. Milestones Achieved this Quarter

The Roadheader Chewrocka has excavated approximately 15% of the cavern for Parliament Station;

The Roadheader Crocodile Rouge has excavated approximately 20% of the cavern for the Rideau Station;

The Roadheader Jawbreaker has excavated approximately 65% of the cavern for Lyon Station and has been excavating the running tunnel bench from the east portal to the Rideau Station cavern;

Lyon Station east entrance work has begun within the Place de Ville Podium Building; Demolition of the Bank of Nova Scotia building on Rideau Street at William Street has

been completed, in preparation for the Rideau Station east entrance construction; Construction of the Belfast Yard and connector track adjacent to Belfast Road continues

to progress with expected completion by 2016; Highway 417 Stage 2 median rehabilitation work that began in the summer of 2014 is

ongoing and is on schedule for substantial completion in the summer of 2015; Construction of the Coventry Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge was completed and opened

to the public on February 9; An Air Quality report and Human Health assessment was conducted, in coordination

with Ottawa Public Health, for the Scott and Albert Street corridor where Transitway service will be realigned to accommodate Confederation Line construction. The results of the air quality report predict potential exceedances for up to 0.11% of the time in 2016 and expect no long-term health risks related to air emissions. The reports are available on the project website (www.ottawa.ca/confederationline).

2015 Q1 Confederation Line Update Memo

Work on Albert Street reconstruction is ongoing Phase 2 of Albert Street Civic Works, between Rochester Street and Empress Avenue, has commenced and will continue throughout 2015;

Work on the Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel Diversion Chamber at Booth and Albert Streets commenced in January

Expanded O-Train Trillium Line service was launched on March 2; A mock-up of the Alstom Citadis Spirit light rail vehicle (LRV) was unveiled on January

29 and available for public viewing in February and March at the Aberdeen Pavilion; Release an updated version of weekly construction updates, available via email

subscription on the project website (www.ottawa.ca/confederationline); and, Ongoing communications activities (as outlined below) to mitigate traffic impacts traffic

will continue to be monitored with communications and other activities adjusted in order to minimize any disruptions.

Budget

As approved by Council within the Design, Build, Finance and Maintenance of Ottawas Light Rail Transit Project report (ACS2012-ICS-RIO-0004), a separate $100 million multi-project contingency budget was established to address cost changes that may occur within the Ottawa Light Rail Transit project and the associated works, rather than establish a contingency within each project. The Confederation Line Executive Steering Committee established a Contingency Management Committee (CMC), comprised of the City Manager; the Deputy City Manager, Planning and Infrastructure; and the City Treasurer. CMC is responsible for reviewing and approving expenditures against the contingency account. In this context, they are responsible for ensuring that variations and risks are properly managed and accounted for as potential draws against the account. The Rail Implementation Office (RIO) staff employ comprehensive risk management practices and an ongoing risk registry that is used to capture risks that have the potential to trigger an additional draw on the contingency fund. Staff regularly monitor and update these risks with a focus to eliminate or mitigate wherever possible. At this time, staff is comfortable that the


available contingency fund is of an appropriate magnitude based on anticipated risk likelihood and cost. Similarly, RIO has established the Change Control Board (CCB) as a strong governance structure to oversee and manage changes or variations to the Project Agreement. CCB ensures that variations are justified and costs are appropriate. Variations that require draws on the contingency fund are only approved by CCB after CMC approval has been granted. To date, CMC has approved $8 million in compensation events and contract variations. These changes were not contemplated in the preliminary design and not provided for in the project agreement. The changes reflect warranted design revisions and City retained risks. This includes changes such as:

removal of asbestos and underground fuel tank at the three Belfast buildings (compensation event);

and integrated design changes (variation confirmations).

In addition, the Committee has earmarked $66 million for possible future changes mainly related to property requirements and transit priorities. The balance is available for additional variations and most specifically risk mitigation. As needed, funds will be transferred from the contingency account into the project account(s), and reported to Council as budget adjustments done under delegated authority. Communications The Confederation Line construction project is a multi-year project with construction sites across the city, including both localized and citywide impacts. As part of the project agreement, the City is the lead in managing and sharing information with the public. Due to the nature and size of the project, the City has divided communications efforts into two streams:

Stakeholder Relations: focuses on local residents, businesses and other stakeholders directly affected by the construction.

Citywide Communications: ensures that communications on the overall project as well as traffic and mobility impacts are shared with the public in a timely and consistent manner. This information is integrated with other traffic and mobility impacts resulting from other construction projects as well as planned and unplanned events.

Stakeholder Relations The Stakeholder Relations group continues to meet with Councillors, stakeholders and community representatives affected by the Confederation Line, Civic Works and the Highway 417 widening projects to provide information about upcoming works, mitigate risk and troubleshoot, as required. Examples of these outreach efforts include:


Weekly project updates; Regular, monthly meetings and presentations to key stakeholders, including the

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the National Arts Centre, the Government Conference Centre, and Public Works and Government Services Canada;

Sharing information through meetings and communication documents with property owners regarding tunnel excavation under Queen Street, Rideau Street and Waller Street alignments;

Sharing information through meetings with residents and key staff members at the University of Ottawa and 50 Laurier residence regarding work along the eastern tunnel segment;

Sharing information through meetings and communication documents with local residents and businesses regarding Belfast Yard and connector work;

Public outreach by sharing information through hand-delivered communications documents with residents regarding Albert Street Civic Works and Combined Sewage Storage Tunnel Diversion Chamber;

Monthly information booths at various City events; and, Project presentations to multiple internal and external organizations and departments

(including industry associations, community associations, business groups and business improvement areas).

Citywide Communications Since the Confederation Line project began last year, the City has increased communications efforts around all construction-related projects to provide timely, accurate and reliable information to help the public plan how to move around the City. Examples of these communications include:

Weekly Public Service Announcements related to the Confederation Line, Civic Works and the Highway 417 widening projects;

Weekly updates to the Confederation Line project website; Daily Traffic Updates are shared with local traffic reporters; Real-time commuter delays are shared with the public via Twitter at @Ottawacity,

@Ottawa_Traffic and @OCTranspo; Traffic and construction briefings providing four-month overviews are given quarterly; The Ottawa Nav mobile app is available for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to plan

routes in real-time; Construction and variable message signs are installed near construction sites alerting

commuters to current or planned works; Information about construction and traffic impacts are posted on Ottawa.ca and weekly

updates on the Confederation Line are included on Ottawa.ca/confederationline; Public Service Announcements are issued prior to the start of any construction project;

and,


Unplanned traffic impacts are shared with the public via Twitter and on the front page of Ottawa.ca.

The project celebrated a significant milestone in January when a mock-up of the Alstom CITADIS Spirit Light Rail Transit (LRT) train was, unveiled at Aberdeen Pavilion. The public was able to experience the future vehicle first-hand at Lansdowne Park for two months, and over 15,000 members of the public attended this event. In February, the City also celebrated the opening of the new Coventry Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge connecting communities over the Highway 417. The City routinely uses social media to promote the project, via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, the Confederation Line website and the Online Magazine on the front page of Ottawa.ca. Confederation Line Delegation of Authority On December 11, 2013 Council approved the Confederation Line Delegated Authority Report to ensure that approvals for changes to the Confederation Line design would not impede the project schedule. The report gives delegated authority to the Deputy City Manager, Planning & Infrastructure to approve significant design modifications on the Confederation Line project with the concurrence of the affected Ward Councillor and the Mayor. Prior to Q1 2015, this Delegation of Authority has been used for design changes to Pimisi Station, Rideau Station and the Maintenance and Storage Facility (Belfast Yard) Connector. Outlined below are two additional station designs that have been approved this quarter. Lyon Station The Deputy City Manager approved a design change to Lyon station to relocate from the public Right-of-Way its west entrance on the south side of Queen Street, east of Lyon Street and the elevator entrance on the south side of Queen Street west of Lyon Street to the south-west corner of Lyon and Queen Street integrated within the future site developments. The new consolidated west entrance design allows for an improved streetscape on Queen Street. These changes were approved with the concurrence of the Mayor and Councillor McKenney and are being managed within the Confederation Line project budget. Parliament Station The Deputy City Manager approved a design change to Parliament Station to relocate its east entrance from the public Right-of-Way on the south-east corner of Queen and OConnor Streets to the north-west corner of Queen and OConnor Streets, integrated within a commercial building. This will allow for improved passenger flow and connectivity to surrounding buildings as well as an improved streetscape on Queen Street. These changes were approved with the concurrence of the Mayor and Councillor McKenney and are being managed within the Confederation Line project budget. Direction to Staff At the December 19, 2012 meeting of Council, City staff received the following direction:


That staff be directed to work with the National Capital Commission to assist in identifying viable new locations for the Bixi Bike Program along the Confederation Line, O-Train and Transitways. As Bixi is no longer in operation in Ottawa, staff action on this direction is being deferred until such time as a new bike share service similar to Bixi is back in operation in Ottawa. At the December 3, 2013 Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting, the motion no.FEDC 39/5 was approved that included the following direction: That City Council approve the transfer of $1,000,000 from the City-wide cash-in-lieu of parkland fund to facilitate the implementation of the self supporting hydro poles on the future Scott Street linear park, on the condition that this be a loan that will be repaid as the first draw from Section 37 funds secured from new development in the Scott Street district. The purpose of this motion was to ensure that the Hydro poles would not impact future plans for Scott Street and adjacent greenspace/pathways as outlined in the Scott Street Community Design Plan. After receiving this direction staff began detailed design on the Hydro poles and it was determined that self supporting poles were not required/feasible in some cases and that the protection of the Community Design Plan (CDP), can been addressed through the relocation of guys, stub poles and span wires at a total estimated cost of approximate $250,000. The remaining funds that were delegated to implement this work will be returned to the original fund. At the May 7, 2014 Transportation Committee meeting, City staff received the following direction: That staff work with the Rideau Transit Group to increase the buffer between the sidewalk and bus lane on Albert Street during construction and along the south curb and that an appropriate barrier be erected to supplement the buffer where feasible. Staff worked with RTG to include a 1.0 meter buffer space between the south sidewalk and the eastbound dedicated bus lane, by reducing the width of all lanes on Albert Street (between City Centre and Empress). In addition, a chain link fence has been included in the design, spanning from approximately City Centre Avenue to Booth Street. Next Steps The following activities are tentatively planned for the Q2 2015:

Continue tunnel and station cavern excavation; Detailed design and tender document preparation underway for the Queen Street

Renewal streetscaping project. Continue construction of the Belfast Yard and the connector track; Commence construction of the Lyon Station west entrance


Complete major construction works on Highway 417 to transition Transitway buses from the Transitway onto the Highway (between Hurdman and Blair stations); substantial completion scheduled for fall 2015;

Scott Street widening to allow for the West Service Adjustment; Commence construction of the Booth Street Bridge; Commence construction of the Pickering Place expansion at Tremblay Station Commence widening work on Innes Road; Commence utilities work at St-Laurent Station Commence bus loop work at Blair Station Ongoing citywide communications on the project, including construction and mobility

impacts; Hold events with funding partners on key milestones, as required.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at extension 16623. Steve Cripps, P. Eng., Director, Rail Implementation Office


M E M O / N O T E D E S E R V I C EMayor and CouncilConfederation Line Quarterly Update

confederation line memo to council, q1 2015

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