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Home My WebLink AboutEGD-030-11 U&ingwn Leading the Way REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: Monday, July 11, 2011 Resolution #: 6PA-507 // Report#: EGD-030-11 File #: By-law #: Subject: MILL STREET PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL NEWCASTLE VILLAGE Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD-030-11 be received; 2. THAT the Municipality waive the Purchasing By-law 2010-112 for the construction of the Mill Street Pedestrian Tunnel and associated works to allow Canadian National Railway to complete the project directly due to the complex and time sensitive nature of the work to an upset limit of$4,100,000; 3. THAT a copy of this report be forwarded to the Canadian Transport Agency, Transport Canada and the Canadian National Railway; 4. THAT Council express its intent to fund this project including debenture repayments and financing to the extent allowable from future development charges; 5. THAT the Director of Finance be authorized to make application to the Region of Durham for a debenture in the estimated amount of $3,800,000.00 plus debenture costs to finance the balance of the costs of the Mill Street Pedestrian Tunnel; and CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-9282 REPORT NO.: EGD-030-11 PAGE 2 6. THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute the agreement with the Canadian National Railway in a form satisfactory to the Municipal Solicitor and the Director of Engineering Services. Respectfully by, Submitted by: A.S. annella Reviewed by: Franklin Wu Director of Engineering Services Chief Administrative Officer ubmitted y: Na aylor, B.B.A., C.A. Director of Finance ASC/RA/jo July 11, 2011 REPORT NO.: EGD-030-11 PAGE 3 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 The nature of this report is to provide an update to the Mill Street Pedestrian Tunnel project as it relates to scheduling, costs and funding. The debenture for this project as referenced in FND-003-11 (2011 Current and Capital Budget) has long been identified to be financed through a debenture issuance. The debenture will be repaid through Development Charges collections in future years. 1.2 Since there have been residential development interests in the "Port of Newcastle" dating back to 1988 the Municipality of Clarington has identified the need for improvements at the existing grade separation for the Canadian National Railway over Mill Street between Clarke Street and Toronto Street. Over the course of the past 23 years the project has evolved from a full 4 lane grade separation to the hybrid solution we are proposing now with a separate pedestrian/cyclist tunnel and reconstruction of Mill Street from Toronto Street to Clarke Street. Even the recommended solution for the pedestrian tunnel has evolved from constructing the tunnel under live train traffic, to an innovative pipe pile system to the open cut method that is now proposed. 1.3 Last year the work for the pedestrian tunnel was tendered and came in at over $7,000,000, well over the estimated costs, and with only one bid submission. The post tender review revealed that due to the unique nature of the work and the ongoing work loads (Infrastructure Stimulus funded projects) of the contractors specialized in this work many of the contractors did not have time to take on the work. 1.4 Efforts have since been made to establish an alternative feasible design option that supports CN guidelines and requirements for the project as well as environmental requirements that were originally established in the Mill Street Environmental Study Report (ESR). Through this process there was a change in CN's stance on not being able to close any of the tracks during construction and REPORT NO.: EGD-030-11 PAGE 4 they were now willing to consider track closures and an open cut method for construction of a precast concrete pedestrian tunnel. 1.5 Due to complex construction requirements and the limited availability of dedicated CN staff it was decided that it would be in the best interests of the Municipality to have CN manage the pedestrian tunnel project and the Municipality would manage the reconstruction of Mill Street and the two would coordinate any overlap between the projects. Having CN manage the project would ensure they have the necessary staff available to complete the project and would also reduce the Municipality's exposure to risk associated with working on and around a high speed high volume railway. 2.0 PROPOSED APPROACH 2.1 The Open Cut Trench Method has been used extensively recently along the lakeshore area by both CN and Go Transit in order to improve pedestrian and cyclist access under their railways. The final stages of the work is completed over the course of a long weekend and involves the following: • Closure of Mill Street to through traffic from roughly October 6, 2011 to October 12, 2011 • Closure of the north track to train traffic • Removal of the tracks, installation of soil support system and excavation of the area to receive the precast concrete tunnel sections • Preparation of the foundation • The half of the precast sections which will have been assembled beside the tracks prior to the track closure are then pushed into place • The excavation is then filled in, compacted and tracks reinstalled and ready for traffic. • The process is repeated on the south side REPORT NO.: EGD-030-11 PAGE 5 • Retaining walls are then installed at both ends 2.2 Although the installation is completed in a relatively short time there is roughly two to three months of preparation work that has to occur to allow for the quick installation of the tunnel. This work involves preparing the track surface to allow for the necessary construction equipment to have quick and easy access to the area through the installation of approach ramps on the north and south side of the tracks and providing a working platform on the tracks. 2.3 In order for this work to move forward the contractor completing the reconstruction of Mill Street under Contract CL2011-21 will need to halt work for roughly a 2 month duration. Once the pedestrian tunnel work is complete the contractor for CL2011-21 would remobilize and complete the recreational trail connections to the tunnel and final restoration in the area. Contract CL2011-21 has been structured to allow for this remobilization to occur. 2.4 Based on scheduling provided by CN they would commence preparation work in mid August 2011, complete the installation of the tunnel and associate works from October 7, 2011 to October 11, 2011 and would have the clean up work completed by mid November 2011. All works associated with both the pedestrian tunnel and road reconstruction would be completed by December of 2011. 2.5 CN has provide the Municipality with a cost estimate of $4,100,000 to complete the tunnel work which includes for final design, construction, contract administration, contingencies and net HST. 2.6 As part of the pedestrian tunnel project, CN will tender the majority of the tunnel supply and installation work, and award of the work will be subject to the review and approval of the Municipality's Director of Engineering Services in order to ensure the Municipality is in agreement with the actual tendered costs. REPORT NO.: EGD-030-11 PAGE 6 3.0 BENEFITS TO PROPOSED APPROACH 3.1 The Open Cut method constructed by CN offers significant benefits for construction of the Mill Street Pedestrian tunnel than other the other methods considered, including the following: • The need for pile-driving or augering during very restricted CN-imposed construction windows (late night/ early morning weekend hours) is eliminated and, as such, all works can be completed during regular industry-established day-time construction schedules and daylight hours, except for the rail closure over the Thanksgiving long weekend, eliminating this very disruptive disturbance to the public during the weekends. • The contractor will not be subject to costly delays due to potential interruptions and CN rail traffic requirements. • The cost of hiring CN Flagmen, who are currently in short supply and available only on a restricted basis, is reduced. • Overall construction period for tunnel installation will be shortened by an estimated 90%, representing approximately 4 days compared to the 8 weeks associated with the temporary support of live train traffic method. 4.0 PROJECT FINANCING 4.1 As indicated in Report FDN-003-11, this project has been identified to be debentured with 100% of the project to be funded from the Roads and Related Development Charges component. 4.2 Through a previous agreement with CN they will contribute $300,000 towards the project. 4.3 A debenture of $3,800,000.00 over a 15 year period based on an interest rate of 5% has estimated annual repayments of $400,000.00 with 100% funding from the development charges. The exact amount of the repayment would be REPORT NO.: EGD-030-11 PAGE 7 determined at the time of the debenture issuance by the Region of Durham. A follow up report will be brought back to Council in September of 2011 outlining the exact debenture needs based on CN's tendering process over the summer. 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Upon careful consideration of available options, scheduling commitments, CN- imposed construction limitations, and in an effort to proactively manage public expectation, Municipal staff recommends that CN be requested to complete the construction of the Pedestrian Tunnel by open cut method based on the above noted financing arrangements. Attachments: Attachment 1— Key Map HIGHWAY No. 401 � J O ci w TORON O ST C,N R• J CLP RKE ST J Q wlull [I TMIT t — - - -- - --_- Highway_No.401 -C F� DRAWN BY: E.L. DATE:July 6,2011 REPORT EGD-030-11 Yr NEWCASTLE - KEY MAP ATTACHMENT NO. 1 -- G:AAttachments\Mill St Recon.mxd