City of Barrie P3 Transit Service Project

operational

Opportunity Barrie Transit’s existing service contract for its fleet of buses had been continuously rolled over for almost 25 years due to the inability to offer a competitive procurement process without its own service and maintenance facility. In 2008 the City purchased 133 Welham Road with the intention of converting it into a transit maintenance and operations facility with a capacity to accommodate Barrie’s growing fleet, which is expected to expand to 85 buses by 2025. When PPP Canada funding was secured in October 2011 and with the endorsement of City Council, the City was able to commence the P3 procurement process. Innovations As part of the bid submission, proponents were required to submit their design team’s energy model for the facility which demonstrated an energy consumption rate of a minimum of 40 per cent cost improvement compared with the Model National Energy Code for Buildings base case. The energy model was then written into the Project Agreement, transferring risk for energy consumption to the private partner. A one-time substantial completion payment was paid to the private partner upon successful completion of the facility as determined by an independent third party certifier, incentivizing on-time completion. Results The private partner built a new 108,000 square-foot transit facility, which include indoor bus storage for 85 buses, vehicle maintenance and servicing areas, maintenance lifts, washing and fuelling station, a fare collection area, and operations and administrative space for the City and private partner. The private partner will operate and maintain the City’s bus fleet for 30 years. The new facility improves operational efficiency and quality of services; will increase transit ridership; and produced direct economic and social benefits both during and after construction. The new facility will reduce CO2 emissions by 192,000 kilograms annually due to the elimination of overnight winter idling of buses being stored outside. This will also reduce vehicle fuel consumption, generating anticipated fuel savings of $80,000 per year.

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