Project Life Cycle
- Projects & Programs
- Project Life Cycle
Overview
At Metrolinx, we deliver transit and infrastructure projects for the benefit of the communities we connect and serve. Each project has a “life cycle” of several key stages that ensure its successful delivery, from start to finish.
Transit planning
Metrolinx plans transit in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) according to its Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), which outlines a vision for our transportation network for decades to come.
The RTP also:
- Guides the continuing transformation of the current transit system;
- Acts as a blueprint for a regional transit system that puts the traveller’s needs first;
- Outlines priority projects and offers expert advice to government on achieving an integrated transit network; and
- Defines the goals shared by Metrolinx, the Province, and the GGH’s municipalities and transit agencies, and actions to achieve them.
As an agency of the Government of Ontario, Metrolinx is overseen by the Ministry of Transportation, which is responsible for providing funding to advance planning, design and construction of a project. The province may also work with other levels of government to provide additional funding.
Implementing the RTP requires a joint effort by all partners to coordinate transit planning, investment, and a regional approach to long-term funding.
We kick off this process by bringing evidence-based recommendations to the provincial government for decision-making on new projects and policies.
Business cases
Business cases are reports that explain why a project should be built. They provide evidence to decision-makers, stakeholders, and the public, about how projects can solve problems or address opportunities.
A business case is just one of several studies Metrolinx uses to make a decision about a project, and helps to establish important details, such as cost, design and benefits, throughout a project’s life cycle.
Initial Business Cases determine the best option for a project based on several factors. We think about how the project will help us reach our transportation goals for the region, the overall economic value and potential cost-savings, and environmental benefits. We also consider what is needed to build and operate the project once it’s in service.
Preliminary Design Business Cases build on the previous Initial Business Case and are typically used to secure government funding for procurement and construction. We further analyze the preferred option, weigh the benefits and risks, and explore ways to successfully implement the project.
Full Business Cases document project design, needs and benefits at the procurement stage, and give us a better picture of the preferred project option. For larger, long-term projects, we may update the Full Business Case to include new information that we learn over the course of the project’s life cycle.
Post In-Service Business Cases may be developed after a project is complete and in-service to study the benefits and costs, and to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvements for future projects.
Environmental studies
Environmental studies ensure we consider any potential environmental effects before starting work on a project.
These studies document existing conditions, assess potential construction or operational impacts from a project, and identify ways to eliminate or reduce them.
The type of environmental studies that are conducted depend entirely on the project itself. There are a variety of factors that determine the potential need for and/or type of environmental study. These factors include (but aren’t limited to):
- Project size and scope;
- Geographical location; and
- Natural, social, cultural, and economic considerations.
Based on these factors, a project may not proceed, or it will require further changes to design and scope, which may impact project timelines.
To support a project’s design, Metrolinx engages with the public, follows recommendations from these studies and takes the necessary steps to ensure we do what is needed to deliver a project in the right way.
Learn more about environmental assessment requirements for transit projects.
Design
The first step in designing a capital project is figuring out what needs to be built and what limitations exist. Project design can begin prior to procurement and continue once a contractor has been selected.
Metrolinx considers many important factors when delivering our transit projects, including safety and accessibility for our customers, how the project will operate and be maintained, as well as its sustainability and longevity over time. The initial design phase typically involves multiple teams and stakeholders, and the goals and objectives of the project are outlined.
The next step focuses on developing the detailed design throughout and after the procurement stage.
Depending on the project, design proposals from third party contractors are received. These proposals include their proposed plans for how they would deliver the project for us. We then review the proposals to ensure they conform to our established project requirements and goals.
The way we approach design activities varies depending on the chosen procurement delivery model, and what is required of the project to meet the needs of our customers and deliver the benefits to the community. The final project design is then built during the construction phase.
Interactive technology helping design GO network of the future.
Procurement
Metrolinx’s procurement strategies are designed to ensure the public receives the best possible project, maximize competitive and fair bidding with the most qualified vendors, and ultimately deliver a project in the most cost-effective and efficient way. Depending on the project, the procurement process may begin either before or after project design has begun.
Metrolinx reviews and evaluates design proposals submitted by bidders to ensure they conform to project and regulatory requirements.
Delivery model
The key to successfully delivering a project is selecting the best procurement delivery model – the plan for how we manage and deliver a project. There are different ways to do this, depending on the project's size, complexity, and appetite from the market. A delivery model sets up the roles and responsibilities for Metrolinx and our contractor, providing a framework for the entire construction process from beginning to end.
The length of the procurement stage depends entirely on the complexity of a project. For larger, more complex projects – including those that integrate with other transit systems or services – we develop a procurement delivery strategy that can meet the demands of both the project and potential contractors. In this case, we may break up the project into smaller pieces and bring on different companies to deliver each package of work based on their expertise. This approach to project delivery makes it more manageable and encourages greater collaboration and accountability between Metrolinx and our contractors.
Learn more about procurement delivery models.
Funding and project budget
Metrolinx's capital projects are funded by the Province and may also receive funding through the Province’s funding partnerships with other levels of government.
A project's funding needs become clearer as we advance through the detailed planning and design stages and are updated when we assess project options during the business case process.
The total estimated cost of a project may change over the course of its life cycle when we reach key project milestones, such as taking it to market to find a contractor.
As we get closer to completing a project, we oversee and manage our budgets and work with the Province to determine the current funding needs to deliver the project.
Construction
Metrolinx brings its transit projects to life through various phases of construction activities.
Pre-planning and due diligence investigations
Before we can put shovels in the ground for a project, we need to work with our contractors in a pre-planning phase to do early inspection work, also known as due diligence investigations. During this phase, we physically check the existing conditions of the infrastructure to plan how we'll build the project and to gain a strong understanding of how the project will integrate with the existing environment and broader transit network. The goal is to find out what details of the project can be improved so that we can start early construction work on a strong foundation.
Early works
Early works are the first opportunity to begin construction activities and to prepare for the phases of work ahead. This involves clearing any obstacles in the way, including demolishing buildings or moving utilities that are above or below the ground. This work paves the way for major construction and is key to setting the project up for success.
Major works
Major construction starts once we finalize the project’s planning and design phase and clear the construction site with heavy machinery. At this point, we start the key infrastructure activities that will bring the project to life.
One of the major construction activities that plays an important role in expanding transit service across the region is tunnelling, which is essential for building underground subway and LRT routes. Explore our tunnelling section to learn more about the methods Metrolinx employs to construct tunnels in busy urban areas.
Design changes
As we build our projects, there is a possibility that we may discover infrastructure or environmental conditions that we weren’t previously aware of during the project's design phase. This could include old or aging utilities, sensitive environmental ecosystems, archaeological findings, or culturally sensitive landmarks – any of which could present a challenge in continuing to deliver the project.
If our teams discover any of these potential roadblocks, we may need to alter the design of the project to accommodate the new findings. At this point, our teams work together to update the project’s design and make sure any changes we make are safe, conform to our project goals and requirements, and keep the project on track.
Testing and commissioning
As construction progresses, it’s important that our project is on schedule and meets the safety and design standards that we developed earlier on in the project’s life cycle.
Metrolinx’s testing and commissioning process was created in line with worldwide industry practices for other major infrastructure projects.
Our expert teams need to ensure everything is designed, developed, and installed according to the design requirements, and that it is safe for anyone that may interact with the project’s infrastructure. This includes maintenance and safety workers, transit operators, customers, and the community.
Following the inspection, our teams will test the project’s infrastructure before we put it into service. This step ensures that all the individual aspects of a project are working properly and together before we can integrate it with any other transit systems or services.
Completion
A Metrolinx capital project is complete when we finish all the work outlined in the contract and it meets our requirements – the project is now ready to come online.
There are varying levels of completion, including:
Substantial completion
Substantial completion means that a project is sufficiently complete, and we can use it for its intended purpose. At this point, we may take possession of the property and start operating it. From here, we may need to complete some finishing touches, such as landscaping, painting, and tiling, as well as ironing out any deficiencies that we may have found during the testing and commissioning phase.
Total completion
Total completion means that we’ve finished all the necessary work, including making all the finishing touches and addressing any outstanding issues – the project is now 100% complete.
