The bids are in to build a major transit hub at Toronto's Kipling Station

Initial renderings of the Kipling Mobility Hub/Metrolinx

Ontario is one step closer to building a transit hub at Kipling Station.

On Tuesday, the province announced that it has moved into the next phase of procurement with the close of the request for proposals to design and build the hub.

Earlier this year, the Ontario government unveiled its redevelopment plan for Kipling Station, helping connect the GTA to Hamilton via a major transit station that integrates subway, regional rail, and inter-regional bus services into a single hub. The hub will also include a new terminal and better access for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

“This next step for Kipling Station is terrific news for people throughout Etobicoke,” said Yvan Baker, MPP for Etobicoke Centre, in a statement. “By building more transit and improving access to it, we are helping more people get around the GTHA in a safe and reliable way.”

The upgrades will also allow for more GO rail service on the Milton GO corridor and will support the province’s GO Regional Express Rail (RER) project, which the government projects will increase the number of weekly trips across the GO train network from 1,500 today to roughly 6,000 by 2025.

The work at Kipling Station includes: an elevated pedestrian bridge; a pedestrian underground tunnel; a new entrance; renovations to the existing Kipling GO station building and existing TTC pedestrian pick-up and drop off building; a new bus terminal building for MiWay and GO Transit; complete site infrastructure including parking upgrades, and improved vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access; and a new extension of Acorn Ave south of Dundas St. West with vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access, including traffic signals.

Three teams, Bird/Kiewit Joint Venture, EllisDon Infrastructure Transit, and Kipling Infrastructure Partnership, submitted their proposals to design, build and finance this project.

And over the next several months, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx will evaluate the proposals. The successful proposal is expected to be announced in 2018.

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