8-May-2019
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30-April-2019
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18-June-2018
The New Champlain Bridge Corridor (NCBC) project in Montréal, Québec, received the Envision® Platinum award for sustainable infrastructure. Envision recognition for this iconic and regionally important infrastructure project was officially unveiled on June 5, 2018 to coincide with World Environment Day. An award celebration was hosted by Signature on the Saint-Lawrence Construction (SSLC) near the project site in Montréal at the annual BBQ, organized by the Consortium. Attendees at the event included Melissa Peneycad, ISI’s Director of Sustainable Projects, as well as Hugh Boyd, SSL Project Manager; Marthe Robitaille, SSL Environmental Manager; and Chantale Côté, Senior director of the New Champlain bridge project at Infrastructure Canada and a crowd of over 150 people. The NCBC project is the first Envision-recognized project in the province of Québec (fourth in Canada overall) and the second bridge project to earn an Envision award in North America.
“The project is subject to very high technical standards of sustainable development and, as a flagship project for Montréal and Canada, it was crucial for SSL to attain the highest possible distinction.”
– Hugh Boyd, SSL Project Manager
“Given the unique requirements of this project and the leadership of the SSL Management team in protecting the environment, we wanted to aim for the highest level of recognition, i.e. Platinum. We are very proud today of this result. I thank all the teams that enabled us to attain this prestigious award. This is a great day for us.”
– Marthe Robitaille, SSL Environmental Manager
In 2011, the Government of Canada announced the construction of the NCBC to replace the existing Champlain Bridge that was nearing the end of its useful life. The NCBC project includes a new 3.4-kilometer bridge connecting the cities of Montréal to the west and Brossard to the east, the replacement of the existing Île-des-Soeurs (Nun’s Island) Bridge, as well as highway redevelopment work along the A-15 and A-10 in Montréal and Brossard respectively.
The NCBC project is a major regional transportation system and a significant throughway allowing for nearly $20 billion annually in Canada-US trade. It is being delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Federal Government acting as the public partner and the Signature on the Saint-Lawrence (SSL) as the private partner responsible for carrying out the project. The SSL consortium is comprised of four companies, including SNC-Lavalin, Dragados Canada Inc., Flatiron Construction Canada Limited, and EBC.
“I am very pleased that the New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project has earned the Envision® Platinum award. This confirms it is following high standards of sustainable development to ensure the environment is protected. I want to congratulate the environment teams of Infrastructure Canada and Signature on the Saint Lawrence for their hard work in developing and applying the project’s environmental requirements. It is thanks to their efforts that the new Champlain Bridge will not only be a modern effective piece of transportation infrastructure, but also an example of sustainable development and innovation Montréalers and Canadians can be proud of.”
– The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
To reach Envision Platinum status, a project must demonstrate that it delivers a range of environmental, social, and economic benefits to the host and affected communities. The Envision system examines the impact of sustainable infrastructure projects as a whole, through five distinct categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Risk. These key areas contribute to the positive social, economic, and environmental impacts on a community.
Key factors contributing to the New Champlain Bridge Corridor project earning Envision Platinum include:
Sustainable Growth and Development: As one of the busiest crossings in Canada, the economic contribution of the NCBC project to the provincial economy cannot be overstated. This transportation corridor will support annual traffic of between 40 and 50 million commuters, as well as over $20 billion in international trade. Improvements to mobility brought by the NCBC compared to the existing Champlain Bridge will have a direct positive impact on the economy by reducing travel time for cars and trucks and providing reliable public transit options as well.
Community Quality of Life: In addition to addressing safety and security concerns and maintaining the vital economic link of the Champlain Bridge, the NCBC project improves the quality of life of the host and neighbouring communities in a multitude of ways. For example, the project improves accessibility to non-motorized transportation and public transit by including a multi-use path for both pedestrians and cyclists and rehabilitating existing cycling networks on the project site in Montréal, and by including provisions for future light rail transit (LRT) in the center lanes of the bridge. The project also improves community mobility by enabling safer, more secure travel across the corridor, and improving the efficiency of traffic flows, especially on the approaches to the NCBC and for communities bordering the project site; and improving pedestrian linkages at the center of Île-des-Soeurs, under the highway, to allow connection between the northern and southern portions of the area.
Leadership in Sustainability: As the owner of the project, the Government of Canada laid a strong foundation for sustainability. The Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) publicly articulates the government’s commitments to improving the sustainable performance of Canadian initiatives, projects, and developments. The NCBC project aligns with the FSDA commitments to ensuring continued safety and service, promoting economic growth and providing value for Canadians, and fostering sustainable development and urban integration. Specific to this project and in keeping with each member’s long-standing commitments to sustainability, SSL developed its own policies and tools to ensure the priorities and commitments made by the Government of Canada were translated into concrete actions and outcomes over the life of the project. For example, the project team implemented an extended environmental quality management system (EQMS) to include social aspects in order to improve the project’s sustainable performance across a broad range of social, environmental, economic, and quality indicators. The EQMS was developed in accordance with the International Standard Organization’s 14001 and 9001 standards for environmental and quality management respectively.
Active stakeholder engagement and continued dialogue have been among the core principles of the project since its inception. Initial consultations were led by the federal government, and subsequently by SSL. A wide variety of stakeholders were solicited for input throughout project planning and delivery, including residents from the City of Montreal’s Verdun and Sud-Ouest boroughs, residents in the cities of Brossard and Longueuil, members of Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Port of Montreal, the association of intermunicipal transit councils, and the interregional committee for freight transport. The project addressed several concerns raised by stakeholders, including technical constraints regarding constructing the project over the St. Lawrence Seaway, integrating multi-use paths in the project area, managing traffic flows during and post-construction, reducing noise and vibration for residents in the area, and providing accessibility to public transit.
Innovation and Exceptional Performance: The NCBC project exceeded the highest levels of achievement within the Envision system for several credits in the Quality of Life category, earning the project bonus points for exceptional performance.
Furthermore, the project is implementing a new passive de-icing concept to mitigate the risk of ice accumulation on the bridge cable-stay system from falling to the bridge below. A modified bridge structure designed to prevent ice from shedding in large quantities was developed in partnership with DSI, the project’s cable-stay system supplier, and the National Research Council of Canada.
The construction of the NCBC project is complex; no temporary structure or construction barges are allowed on the St. Lawrence Seaway as this is a dedicated navigation channel where no activity may interfere with maritime traffic. To overcome this technical constraint, the team requested the use of an innovative approach to construction where the assembly of the main span tower of over 240 metres in length could be done without disrupting traffic on the seaway. The approach used by the NCBC project team was the object of an experimental development in the field of civil engineering.
“Congratulations to the many firms, individuals, and other stakeholders that have contributed, and continue to contribute to this truly exemplary project. The New Champlain Bridge Corridor project is deserving of its Platinum-level rating,” said Melissa Peneycad, of ISI’s Canadian office. “This iconic infrastructure asset has been designed to meet the needs of the people of Montréal and Brossard, and indeed the entire region for a 125-year period. During this time, many variables are expected to change that could influence the functioning of this corridor, such as future developments, climate change impacts, demand on the road network, and even the way people travel. This project has been designed with the necessary flexibility, adaptability, and resiliency to continue to meet the needs of the host and affected communities for its design life, even under changing operating conditions. This project sets a new standard for other major infrastructure investments in Canada and beyond.”
8-March-2018
The Surrey Biofuel Facility located in the City of Surrey, British Columbia is the most recent recipient of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) Envision Platinum award. This is the first waste sector infrastructure project in North America and the third Canadian project overall to earn the prestigious Envision award for sustainability.
The largest facility of its kind in Canada, the facility is also the first closed-loop fully integrated organic waste-to-energy infrastructure facility in North America. The 14,323 square metre facility is capable of processing 115,000 tonnes per annum of residential and commercial organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG). Approximately 120,000 gigajoules of biogas per year will be generated – enough to fuel the city’s entire natural gas-powered waste collection vehicles and its growing fleet of natural gas-powered operations service vehicles, as well as provide a renewable fuel source for the City’s District Energy System. It will also help the Metro Vancouver area achieve its regional waste diversion targets of 80% by 2020. The by-product of this facility—Class A organic compost—will also be available for use in local agriculture and landscaping applications.
“ISI is pleased to present the Surrey Biofuel Facility with the Envision Platinum award for sustainable infrastructure,” said ISI President and CEO, John M. Stanton. “This project is an excellent example of a closed-loop system that will serve the needs of the City for years to come, while significantly reducing waste, and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.”
The Surrey Biofuel Facility is a flagship Public-Private Partnership (P3) project and is eligible for up to $16.9 million in grant funding from the federal P3 Canada Fund. It was developed between the City of Surrey and its partner, Orgaworld Canada part of Renewi plc – a leading international waste-to-product business based in the United Kingdom. Construction of the facility commenced in spring 2015 and operations began in fall 2017.
“Designing, building and operating sustainably is at the core of achieving Surrey’s vision for a thriving, green, inclusive city,” said Mayor Linda Hepner. “I am extremely proud the collaborative efforts and sustainable decision making of everyone on our Surrey Biofuel Facility design-build team who were responsible for making this remarkable infrastructure project a reality.”
Renewi will operate the facility for a 25-year period. This partnership required teamwork and close consideration of shared challenges and opportunities throughout the planning, design and operational phases of the project. Other key firms involved in this state-of-the-art project included the building design firm Stantec Consulting Ltd., the contractor Smith Brothers & Wilson Ltd., and process design/construction by Waste Treatment Technologies BV from the Netherlands.
The Surrey Biofuel Facility earned high scores in the Leadership, Climate and Risk, and Natural World categories.
Key sustainable accomplishments include:
Leadership: The City of Surrey has demonstrated tremendous leadership by intentionally selecting CNG-powered vehicles to establish the option to transition them onto biofuel energy once the City could establish a reliable local supply. From the conception of the city’s overarching organic waste collection system, the City has always intended to pursue a closed-loop system. The completion of the Surrey Biofuel facility will help to realize the City’s vision to power its fleet of waste collection and service vehicles through natural gas produced from organics collected from residents and commercial enterprises throughout Surrey.
The City’s approach to organics waste management is both scalable and transferrable to other cities in North America with established organics diversion and collection programs. In fact, other Canadian municipalities are currently exploring opportunities to replicate this strategy for a closed-loop organics system because of this project’s anticipated success.
Sustainability is a core value of the City of Surrey, and the City based part of its selection process for the consortium of partners who have been working collaboratively to design, build and eventually operate this state-of-the-art project on sustainable performance This facility will be the first organic waste facility to be completed using this approach, and one of only five solid waste P3 projects Canada-wide, a testament to the project team’s leadership.
Climate and Risk: The Surrey Biofuel Facility is expected to have a negligible impact on air pollutant emissions, and the project’s anticipated emissions are far below the California Ambient Air Quality Standards, and well below the even more stringent British Columbia Air Quality Objective.
In addition to falling below air pollution emissions standards for the province of British Columbia and Canada generally, the Surrey Biofuel Facility is expected to be net carbon negative, and it is expected to contribute to a net reduction of more than 49,000 tonnes of CO2e (carbon emissions) after one year of operation. This net reduction in carbon emissions will be primarily achieved through the transition of anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, rather than open air composting.
Natural World (NW): The project site is surrounded by industrial lands. The City commissioned a full remediation of the entire site. Metals and hydrocarbons were among those contaminants removed from the site. No previously undeveloped land was acquired for this project.
Although the project is situated in an industrial area, the project team introduced significant landscape elements to preserve species biodiversity. Vegetation will include a wide range of native and non-native shrubs, and more than 20 trees which far exceed local tree protection bylaws.
To learn more about the Surrey Biofuel Facility, please visit surreybiofuel.ca.
24-September-2015
Photo credit Stantec
Port Metro Vancouver’s Low Level Road project recently received the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) Envision sustainable infrastructure rating system’s Platinum Award. The project is the first transportation project to receive an ISI Envision-verified sustainable infrastructure rating system award.
The Low Level Road Project involved the realignment and elevation of approximately 2.6 kilometers of the Low Level Road in North Vancouver, B.C., providing space for two new rail tracks. The project also eliminated three existing road and rail crossings and provided direct access to major port terminals. In addition, the project addressed safety, recreation and noise challenges associated with port operations along the Low Level Road, including the reconfiguration of three intersections and improved lanes for cyclists. The project also involved the continuation of the Spirit Trail pedestrian walkway, including structures over two creeks and an overpass.
The project was designed to enhance rail and port operations as international trade continues to grow, and to address long-standing community safety and traffic congestion challenges in the area. Stantec Consulting, Ltd. was the principal consultant on the project, which was funded by Port Metro Vancouver, port industry, Canadian National Railway, Translink, Canadian Pacific Railway, and the City of North Vancouver.
“Port Metro Vancouver’s realigned Low Level Road project improves community mobility, enhances the availability of active transportation options, improves community safety and mitigates threats from unstable slopes and seismic risks,” said ISI President and CEO, William Bertera. “The road project’s design team also contributed to sustainable infrastructure through economic development and stability in the local community.”
“The Low Level Road project has increased trade opportunities for Canada while providing safety, traffic flow and recreational benefits to the local community,” said Port Metro Vancouver President and Chief Executive Officer, Robin Silvester. “We are proud of the significant collaboration between funding partners, project staff and the community, and delighted to see recognition of the project’s contributions to sustainability.”
“Stantec is very proud of our work on the Low Level Road, and we are thrilled it is the first Envision-verified transportation project in North America,” said Managing Principal, Transportation, B.C., Neal Cormack. “On this multifaceted project our team realigned the roadways to accommodate rail expansion and increase safety, while securing the road’s slopes and bridge structures to enhance resiliency, protecting against sea level rise and seismic threats.”
ISI’s Envision rating system measures sustainable infrastructure projects through the measurement of five categories: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Natural World (NW), Resource Allocation (RA), and Climate and Risk (CR). These contribute to overall credits for the positive social, economic, and environmental impacts in a community in the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. The Envision categories in which the project scored highest include:
Quality of Life (QL): The Quality of Life highlights include the development of the project through a partnership between a broad group of stakeholders and community leaders including the Government of Canada, Port of Metro Vancouver, Canadian National Railway, Translink, Canadian Pacific Railway, port terminals, the City of North Vancouver, and other partners. A holistic stakeholder engagement program was also established during the design process to ensure that the final design appropriately reflected community needs and priorities.
The project stimulated sustainable growth and development, and economic impacts generated by the Port terminals are expected to rise from providing 25,996 direct and indirect jobs and $1.68 billion in GDP in 2007, to 30,823 direct and indirect jobs and $2 billion in GDP by 2020.
A key feature of the project was the concurrent development of additional pedestrian and cycling facilities as a part of a continuation of the regional Spirit Trail. The project’s design included a new pedestrian overpass, and improvements to existing trails within Moodyville Park. The development of these trail components added a much needed extension to the Spirit Trail network.
Other Quality of Life project characteristics include the reduction of noise from train whistles, the improvement of bike lanes, and the addition of public art work.
Climate and Risk (CR): In the Climate and Risk category, the project received high scores through the reduction of air pollutant emissions, assessment of climate threat, avoidance of traps and vulnerabilities and for adequate preparation for long-term adaptability. By aligning the development of the design for the project with the principles of the city’s adaptation plan, the design effectively prepares for expected climate change risks and impacts that were identified in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan completed by the City of North Vancouver in 2013. The previous road and rail alignment presented a significant configuration trap for users including the local community, which was represented by a number of business operators, governments, and local stakeholders. The project addresses these vulnerabilities through realignment of the roadway up the slope to a higher elevation, improvements to the rail facilities, completion of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls in a cost-efficient method, and the expansion of the Spirit Trail including the installation of two pedestrian bridges.
Leadership (LD): In the Leadership Category, the Low Level Road project rated highest in effective leadership and commitment, provision for stakeholder involvement and improvement of infrastructure integration. The Port used an engagement framework based on the International Association of Public Participation core values and guidelines that were the rationale for selection of stakeholders, and the project team also engaged with local residents, local businesses, First Nations communities, Port tenants and partners, CN Rail and CP Rail, City of North Vancouver, and Trans\Link.
Natural World (NW): The project rated highly in the Natural World category in terms of prime habitat and species biodiversity. Pacific Yew trees and bald eagle habitat that existed on the site are of high ecological value that had the potential of being impacted. The Port hired eagle experts with the Hancock Wildlife Foundation to provide recommendations on how to minimize project impacts on their health and wellbeing. During construction of the Spirit Trail, an environmental monitor and fencing were in place to ensure that the eagle nesting site was not disturbed. Scheduling of construction activities was significantly changed to accommodate bird nesting season. The project also included the installation of two artificial nesting sites for eagles. In addition, an assessment identified 12 Yew trees, which have cultural value to the First Nations Communities and are native to British Columbia, and will not be impacted by the development of the Low Level Road Project.
Photo credit Stantec
25-February-2015
The Grand Bend Area Wastewater Treatment Facility, located in Ontario on the shoreline of Lake Huron, earned the Envision® Platinum level award. This project is the first ISI Envision verification in Canada, and first wastewater facility to be ISI Envision-verified in North America.
For the project, the municipalities of Lambton Shores and South Huron commissioned global design firm Stantec to convert one of four existing lagoons into an extended aeration mechanical treatment facility and wetland nature reserve. The facility prevents effluent discharges from adversely impacting surface and groundwater quality and allows for responsible community development. Stantec used the ISI Envision framework during the design to integrate sustainable features throughout the facility.
Key sustainable features include a constructed wetland to support native wildlife species and further buffer treated effluent, flexible design that makes the facility responsive to changing sewage flows, reduced construction and operational costs through a focus on efficiency, constructing the project within the boundaries of the original facility’s footprint to protect prime farmland, and trails and interpretive signage to encourage community visitors.
“The Grand Bend Area Wastewater Treatment Facility achieved the Platinum award, the highest ISI Envision verification level, because it meets the needs and sustainability goals of stakeholders,” said ISI President and CEO, William Bertera. “This is the first ISI Envision-verified project in Canada, and both the Stantec project team and municipalities of Lambton and South Huron made significant public commitments to the principles of sustainability. They involved the community on key project issues and concerns, and made sustainable design choices to reduce negative impacts.”
“Stantec is very proud of this first-ever ISI Envision verified project in Canada,” said Elvio Zaghi, Stantec’s Project Manager. “The Grand Bend Area WWTF will protect the shoreline waters of Lake Huron, the area’s most important natural and recreational asset.”
“The Municipality of Lambton Shores is excited to have achieved ISI Envision verification of the Grand Bend Area WWTF with our partners – the Municipality of South Huron and Stantec,” said Director of Community Services, Municipality of Lambton Shores, Brent Kittmer. “We take great pride in our efforts to achieve sustainability, and hope this project will pave the way for others in Canada to pursue Envision verification in their infrastructure designs.”
“This project reflects the Municipality’s commitment to protecting the Lake Huron shoreline environment and contributing to the improvement of water quality in the Great Lakes,” Says Don Giberson, Environmental Services Director with the Municipality of South Huron.
The ISI Envision system measures sustainability in infrastructure projects through the measurement of five categories: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Natural World (NW), Resource Allocation (RA), and Climate and Risk (CR). These contribute to overall credits for the positive social, economic, and environmental impacts in a community in the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects.
The highest-rated project categories that the Grand Bend Area WWTF scored using the Envision rating system include:
Quality of Life (QL): Following value engineering sessions and comprehensive reviews, the team achieved significant cost savings for the local municipalities and reduced impacts on nearby residents while maintaining high levels of performance. Numerous features were incorporated into the facility’s design to address resident and stakeholder concerns. Key issues included odour control measures, reduction in negative tourism impacts to beach water quality, noise attenuation to improve community livability, and reduced construction costs.
The site is being restored to native conditions with a constructed wetland. Trails are being installed, and visits to the site are encouraged by the municipalities. In addition, efforts are being taken to actively promote school groups visiting the site for educational purposes.
Leadership (LD): The nature of this project is meant to extend the useful life of the existing facility to ensure its ability to meet community needs today, and for many years into the future. Key design features enhance its durability, flexibility, and resiliency. The facility can be reconfigured and/or expanded to meet new demands, and respond to changing sewage inflows through the use of flow equalization to prevent sewage bypass events.
The team’s collaboration with stakeholders goes beyond project construction. Input from local volunteers and non-profit organizations was essential to planning for the restoration, planting, and maintenance of natural features of the site. The project team is negotiating an agreement with a local university to allow graduate students to conduct long-term academic studies on wastewater quality. A public website provides an avenue for stakeholders to communicate with the project owners.
Resource Allocation (RA): Constructing on the existing lagoon site required considerable fill to elevate the facility. The construction of the wetland provided an opportunity to reuse excavated soils on-site and significantly reduced the need for imported fill and associated costs. Facility performance was improved and project costs were reduced through energy efficient systems, eliminating potable water consumption for process equipment, and reusing digested sludge material from the lagoons as fertilizer for new vegetation.
Natural World (NW): Naturalized prime habitat was created through the design of the constructed wetland and restoration of a tallgrass prairie on-site. The project team worked with local conservation groups, volunteers, and municipal staff to develop a plan that supports the elimination of invasive species. It also restores habitat critical to threatened native species, including the Monarch butterfly, snapping turtle, and Bobolink. The site provides a new protected space for these species and assists with their recovery in the local area.
Climate and Risk (CR): The project design addresses projected changes in population and service area growth and increases in frequency and severity of extreme rainfall events in southern Ontario. The design is consistent with the recommendations incorporated in the “Ontario Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan” based on provincial analysis of expected climate impacts. By developing a more responsive and flexible design, the facility is freed from configuration issues that may reduce its functionality in the future.
