May 21, 1998

 Ms. Novina Wong

Clerk

City of Toronto

Station 1071, 7th Floor

Metro Hall

55 John Street

Toronto, Ontario

M5V 3C6

 Dear Ms. Wong:

 At its meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 1998, the Commission considered the attached report entitled, ASubway Asbestos Removal - Program Requirements.@

 The Commission approved the Recommendation contained in the above report, as listed below:

 AIt is recommended that the Commission:

 1)authorize staff to proceed with the Subway Asbestos Removal Program in accordance with the revised schedule and modified methodology as reported to the Commission on September 23, 1997, noting that overall savings will be achieved in the Capital Program;

 2)grant additional project approval in the amount of $364,000 for a scaffold workcar under program 4.23 Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles, for a total estimated final cost of $3,781,000 (see Appendix A) and thereby further approve:

 a)authorization of award of a contract to AVRA Industries, Tender No. N31S8079, in the amount of $409,664.50, for the design and manufacture of a scaffold workcar for the immediate use in the Asbestos Removal Project on the North Yonge Line;

 b)funds in the amount of $92,335.50 for in-house labour and material costs related to the purchase of the scaffold workcar;

 3)grant additional project approval in the amount of $140,000 for the overhaul of 4 workcars under program 4.22 Rail Non-Revenue Vehicle Overhaul, for a total estimated final cost of $7,143,000 (see Appendix B); which will provide the necessary funds for in-house labour and material costs to complete the work and provide workcars for immediate use in the Asbestos Removal Project on the North Yonge Line;

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 4)approve these funds being held in TTC accounts pending City Council approval of the Project Approval adjustments, as set out in Appendices A, B and C; and

 5)forward this report to the City of Toronto Council requesting the necessary Project Approval adjustments set out in Appendices A, B and C, noting that no additional funds are required overall.@

 The foregoing is forwarded to City of Toronto Council for the necessary approval, as detailed in the report.

 Sincerely,

   Vincent Rodo

General Secretary

1-64

Attachment

 TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION

REPORT NO.

   MEETING DATE:May 20, 1998

  SUBJECT:SUBWAY ASBESTOS REMOVAL - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

     RECOMMENDATION

 It is recommended that the Commission:

 1)authorize staff to proceed with the Subway Asbestos Removal Program in accordance with the revised schedule and modified methodology as reported to the Commission on September 23, 1997, noting that overall savings will be achieved in the Capital Program;

 2)grant additional project approval in the amount of $364,000 for a scaffold workcar under program 4.23 Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles, for a total estimated final cost of $3,781,000 (see Appendix A) and thereby further approve:

 a)authorization of award of a contract to AVRA Industries, Tender No. N31S8079, in the amount of $409,664.50, for the design and manufacture of a scaffold workcar for the immediate use in the Asbestos Removal Project on the North Yonge Line;

 b)funds in the amount of $92,335.50 for in-house labour and material costs related to the purchase of the scaffold workcar;

 3)grant additional project approval in the amount of $140,000 for the overhaul of 4 workcars under program 4.22 Rail Non-Revenue Vehicle Overhaul, for a total estimated final cost of $7,143,000 (see Appendix B); which will provide the necessary funds for in-house labour and material costs to complete the work and provide workcars for immediate use in the Asbestos Removal Project on the North Yonge Line;

 4)approve these funds being held in TTC accounts pending City Council approval of the Project Approval adjustments, as set out in Appendices A, B and C; and

 5)forward this report to the City of Toronto Council requesting the necessary Project Approval adjustments set out in Appendices A,B and C, noting that no additional funds are required overall.

    FUNDING

 The change in methodology will result in costs under Program 4.23 Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles and Program 4.22 Rail Non-Revenue Vehicle Overhaul which were not specifically included in those sections of the 1998-2002 Capital Program. However, sufficient funding is included under Program 6.1 Environmental Programs, Subway Asbestos Removal (pages 613-618) in the 1998-2002 Capital Program as approved by City Council on April 29, 1998.

 BACKGROUND

 The Commission has had an asbestos removal program in the subway system since the early 1980's. The work methods were developed by a task force consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Pinchin Environmental, Ontario Research Foundation, and the Commission. The methodology restricts actual asbestos removal to less than 1-1/2 hours each night after revenue service resulting in low output. After 17 years of asbestos removal in the subway system, an additional 20 years would still be required, using existing procedures.

 At its May 27, 1997 meeting, the Commission approved the closure of the subway between Lawrence and Eglinton Stations on Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, 1997, to allow for an asbestos removal pilot project in the subway tunnel at this location.

 The purpose of the pilot was to provide an opportunity to analyze asbestos removal productivity, methodology, costs, and safety issues for a continuous removal operation over a 52-hour period on the weekend while the subway system was shut down. The objective was removal of asbestos insulation from 800 feet of circular subway tunnel over the weekend.

 At its meeting of September 23, 1997, Commission staff reported on the results of the asbestos removal pilot project. In summary, the pilot project verified that safe removal of sprayed asbestos insulation material from the circular tunnels, from York Mills to Lytton Boulevard Emergency Exit, is achievable in 20 weekends at a cost avoidance of over $10,000,000 subject to the following changes in methodology from the pilot project.

 $The Commission's staff, who are experienced in asbestos removal and restrictions associated with working at track level, will take a lead role in managing the asbestos removal work.

 $The asbestos removal methodology will be based on a well-organized and planned assembly line operation (including the scaffolding system changes and 2 sets of workcars).

  DISCUSSION

 The purpose of the well-organized and planned assembly line operation is to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure a continuous work flow in the asbestos removal operation. Each activity in the asbestos removal pilot project was broken down and assigned a position in the assembly line that maximized efficiency. The productivity of each activity was then used to establish workforce needs and identify inefficiencies that must be engineered out.

 Scaffolding Systems

 The main bottleneck in the proposed assembly line operation is the scaffold system used by workers to remove asbestos insulation from the upper portion of the subway circular tunnel. The standard scaffold system used in the pilot project required 3 hours to be constructed at track level, 2 hours to be dismantled, could safely support only 12 workers, provided a small congested work area, and was extremely difficult and time consuming to move along track level. The objective of 800 tunnel feet of asbestos removal cannot be met utilizing this scaffold system in a cost efficient manner.

 To maximize the time available for asbestos removal during the subway shutdown, the construction of a scaffold workcar that could be towed to the worksite with no assembly required on-site was analyzed. The benefits include a setup and dismantling time of less than 1/2 hour, ease of movement through the tunnel to support the assembly line design, and the provision of a moving platform to support air compressors, lighting, tools, and equipment required for the assembly line operation.

 ARVA Industries was invited to submit a tender on the basis of sole source, which was approved previously by senior management.

 ARVA Industries has successfully designed and built workcars for the Commission in the past. They presently have the shop capacity to produce a scaffold workcar in the required time frame. Commission staff worked with ARVA Industries on conceptual drawings of a scaffold workcar that would meet the asbestos removal assembly line requirements and could be easily constructed within the scheduled time frame.

 The bulk asbestos removal program is scheduled to begin in Fall 1998. Design and construction of a scaffold workcar would have to be completed by the end of Summer 1998 to provide adequate time for commissioning and training. A design/build contract with a firm experienced in the construction of workcars is required to maintain the schedule.

 The tender, in the amount of $409,664.50, submitted by ARVA Industries meets the Commission's requirements and is recommended for acceptance.

 The trucks for the scaffold car will be provided by the Commission. The total estimated cost of materials and in-house labour to commission the scaffold car is $92,335.50.

 When not in use for the asbestos removal program and after completion of the program, the scaffold workcar can be used for painting subway station ceilings, tunnel lighting repairs, and tunnel structure maintenance.

 Workcar Modifications

 Two workcars will be modified to carry equipment and tools to the track level worksite and for storage and removal of the bagged waste asbestos insulation from the worksite. The asbestos workers at track level will be working 11 hour shifts. A third workcar will be modified to provide lunchroom facilities and a testing laboratory at the track level worksite. A fourth workcar will be modified to provide decontamination facilities for the asbestos workers prior to entering and leaving the asbestos removal worksite. The workcar modifications will be completed by in-house Commission forces for a total cost of approximately $140,000.

  JUSTIFICATION

 To achieve the objective of 800 feet of bulk asbestos removal per weekend resulting in significant time and cost reductions, an assembly line methodology approach has to be followed. The scaffold workcars are the key pieces of equipment in obtaining this objective. The award of contract to ARVA Industries and the in-house rehabilitation of existing workcars will allow the bulk removal program to begin in Fall 1998.

  - - - - - - - - - - - -

 May 1, 1998

6-98-VP

Attachment: Appendices A, B, C

Appendix "A"

  PROGRAM 4.23 - PURCHASE RAIL NON-REVENUE VEHICLES

CITY PROJECT #490

 SUMMARY OF PROJECT APPROVAL

  NOTE:Revised program requirements for 1998 are within the existing City Approvals for #490 and this new requirement of $364 thousand for the improved production line methodology will be accommodated by savings in Project 611 -Subway Asbestos Removal Program. The revised Project Approval for this project will total $3,781.

       Plant Maintenance Department

May 1, 1998

Appendix "B"

  PROGRAM 4.22 - RAIL NON-REVENUE VEHICLE OVERHAUL

CITY PROJECT NO. 480

 SUMMARY OF PROJECT APPROVAL

  NOTE:Additional City Project Approvals are required in 1998 for the revised program requirements for #480, however, this new requirement of $140 thousand for the improved production line methodology will be accommodated by savings in Project 611 - Subway Asbestos Removal Program. The revised Project Approval for this project will total $4,007.

       Plant Maintenance Department

May 1, 1998

Appendix "C"

  PROGRAM 6.1 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS -

SUBWAY ASBESTOS REMOVAL PROGRAM

CITY PROJECT NO. 611

 SUMMARY OF PROJECT APPROVAL

  NOTE:Additional City Project Approvals are required in 1998 of $504 thousand for the revised program requirements for #480 and #490, however, this new requirement for the improved production line methodology will be accommodated by savings in Project 611 - Subway Asbestos Removal Program of $642 thousand. The revised Project Approval for this project will total $15,812.

     Plant Maintenance Department

May 1, 1998

STAFF SUMMARY SHEET