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Cablegate: Toronto's Transit Expansion, Opportunities for U.S. Firms

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INFO ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TORONTO 000296

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DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR/EISSENSTAT, SULLIVAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINT ELTN CA
SUBJECT: Toronto's Transit Expansion, Opportunities for U.S. Firms

REF: TORONTO 63

1. (SBU) Summary: The Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) C$2.6
billion Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension Project presents
potential opportunities for U.S. businesses as there is no domestic
content requirement for the design and construction phases. The
project, part of the biggest expansion in the TTC's history --
North America's third busiest mass transit system -- is in the
design phase of a design-bid-build format. Design work will be
available for contractors to bid on by mid-2010. More information
will be available to potential contractors by mid-December. End
Summary.

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Project Funding

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2. (U) As part of its economic stimulus package and infrastructure
renewal in its 2009 budget, Ontario pledged C$9 billion to address
transportation issues. The province's total infrastructure budget
was topped up with C$4 billion from the GOC's 2009 federal budget.
In March 2009, the GOC and Ontario announced they would allocate
C$1 billion for a C$2.6 billion TTC expansion project, with
two-thirds coming from the Province. The balance of the project
will be funded by the City of Toronto and the Regional Municipality
of York. The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension Project is the
start of the biggest expansion in the TTC's history, North
America's third busiest mass transit system, after New York and
Mexico City. The planned extension, which will include six subway
stations, intermodal bus terminals, commuter facilities and
parking, among other infrastructure upgrades, is expected to open
in 2015.

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Budget Shortfall Won't Stop Project

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3. (SBU) The expansion plans are moving ahead despite a C$106
million shortfall in the TTC's 2010 operating budget. However, in
an effort to offset its operating budget shortfall, TTC
Commissioners (made up of nine city councilors) voted November 17
to hike the adult TTC cash fair by 25 cents to C$3.00. Other fares
(students, seniors) will also increase. Even with the fare hike,
the TTC will be short C$56 million in next year's operating budget.
There is wide speculation that similar fare hikes are likely for
the next several years just to cover operating costs. To date,
city politicians responsible for TTC have refused to discuss cuts
to service.

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Contracts Awarded

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4. (U) The TTC expansion project follows a design-bid-build format.
The project is currently in the design phase, with three lead
design consultants working on station design. U.K.-based Arup
Designs, California-based AECOM, and The Spadina Group Associates
(a joint venture between U.K.-based Alsop Architects and
Toronto-based Stevens Group Architects) have been awarded contracts
worth C$70 million for the six stations in October 2008.

5. (SBU) Design work will be available for contractors to bid on by
mid-2010. A TTC representative told us that the organization plans
to give a presentation to prospective contractors in early December
that will provide prescriptive details on the available contracts.
We were told that U.S. contractors have attended presentation

TORONTO 00000296 002 OF 002


sessions in the past, and are expected in December as well. TTC
officials claim their tender requests do not have domestic content
requirements -- other than for vehicle tenders.

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Domestic Content Rule for Trains

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6. (U) As part of a larger regional transportation concept a
request for proposal for new vehicles was issued by the TTC. That
RFP specified a minimum of 25% Canadian content. Quebec-based
Bombardier and Germany-based Siemens submitted bids. Bombardier
was awarded a C$1.2 billion contract to supply the TTC with 204 new
low-floor light rail vehicles (LRV) -- streetcars -- beginning in
2011. A TTC representative told us on October 30 that the TTC has
exercised an option to buy an additional 56 subway cars for the
Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension as part of the same order.

9. (SBU) Comment: The TTC and Ontario have selectively established
domestic content requirements in an effort to protect Ontario's
skilled manufacturing jobs. The streetcar contract represents
4,500 direct jobs in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where Bombardier builds
the vehicles. While nearly half of the total project's value did
specify domestic content requirements, the TTC is actively seeking
U.S. participation for other aspects of the expansion, including
large-scale construction contracts. TTC's chairman, an ambitious
city councilor with a Toronto mayoral campaign likely in his
future, personally urged us to promote the expansion project as an
opportunity for U.S. businesses.
JOHNSON

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