A GO train pulls out of Union Station in downtown Toronto in the 1990s

Transit Procurement Initiative

Introduction

Metrolinx’s Transit Procurement Initiative (TPI) has become one of North America’s most innovative transit procurement programs. Since the program began in 2006, TPI has conducted 27 joint procurements for 54 transit agency partners. TPI helps small, medium, and large transit systems across the province save tax-payer dollars. The program team comprises industry-experienced staff who develop performance-based technical specifications, create and release tender documents (e.g. Requests for Proposal), and manage contracts with vendors for the entire project lifecycle.

TPI saves tax-payer dollars through:

  • Increased purchasing power and economies of scale
  • Increased procurement efficiencies
  • Decreased capital and operational costs
  • Access to procurement and industry experts
  • Synergies and networking amongst transit partners
  • Technical specifications based on best practices and lessons learned

Review the 2021-2022 TPI Annual Report

Highlights

  • 54 transit partners
  • A 93.7% average client satisfaction rate
  • $38.6 million in overall cumulative program savings and cost avoidance
  • 9.8% growth in bus order intake over the past fiscal year
  • TPI surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall contract value
  • TPI’s first battery electric bus consulting services contract has been awarded

Current Joint Procurements

Contract

Ordered

Participating Municipalities

Approximate Contract Value

Expiry Date

6-metre minibus

6

7

$770 K

Q3 2024

8-metre bus

Award in Sept. 2022

9

-

-

12-meter bus

348 buses

21

$230M

Q1 2024

Batteries

1835 batteries

6

$640K

Q1 2023

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) – Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)

303 systems

19

$6.8M

Q1 2023

Battery Electric Bus Feasibility Study

-

14

$1.8M

Q1 2024

Batteries

To be awarded in Q1 2023

-

-

-

12-metre electric bus

To be awarded in Q1/Q2 2023

-

-

-

Charging stations

TBA

-

-

-

Past Joint Procurements

  • 18- and 12-metre buses (awarded in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017)
  • 9- and 10.5-metre buses (awarded in 2009, 2011, 2018)
  • 7- and 8-metre buses (awarded in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2018)
  • 6-metre minibuses (awarded in 2017)
  • Transit inventory management services (awarded in 2011)
  • On board video surveillance systems (awarded in 2017)

Some of our transit partner feedback

"The overall experience was fantastic, great work by the Metrolinx team in pulling this joint procurement together. We're looking forward to a continued partnership."

“TPI has always been very professional, knowledgeable, and prompt when dealing with any questions or concerns. TPI makes the procurement process seamless for municipalities. I look forward to working with TPI on future projects.”

“Not only did participation generate time and cost savings opportunities; it also opened the door to network and collaborate with other transit agencies across the province and share best practice-solutions for the design-configuration and installation of the camera system.”

Contact

Contact us if you would like any more information on the program or are interested in becoming a program partner.

Kristy Mlakar, Manager

Kristy.mlakar@metrolinx.com

416.319.0265