The Light Rail Pilot Project (now known as the O'Train) was the first step toward city-wide light rail transit.  With implementation now well underway, future extensions to the service are being explored.

Morrison Hershfield was retained by CP Rail (as the design/ build contractor for OC Transpo and the Region of Ottawa-Carleton) to undertake project management, detailed design and construction administration services for:

• Five LRT stations and one new transitway station
• Upgrades to the Dows Lake railway tunnel
• Maintenance facility upgrading and expansion (building, mechanical, structural, electrical systems, site works)
• Corridor fencing

The assignment also included:

• Involvement with the replacement and rehabilitation of various components of two railway bridges over the Rideau River and Sawmill Creek
• Coordination of various electrical, communications and signalization requirements, including existing and new fibre optics communication infrastructure
• Coordination and liaison with various stakeholders, including utility companies and contractors, approving authorities, public interest groups, other consultants and the owner/operator representatives
• Involvement in track design and a variety of related civil works

Working closely with both CP Rail (our client) and OC Transpo (the owner/operator of the new facility), Morrison Hershfield was able to deliver a variety of innovative design solutions.   Although there are several constraints involved in any pilot project, such as budget and schedule limitations, Morrison Hershfield successfully addressed the needs of the client and a variety of other stakeholders.

The Morrison Hershfield “partnership” approach to this assignment helped to facilitate a new contracting arrangement (for the client and the owner) and a complicated delivery process for the first light rail facility in the Ottawa area.