Toronto Transit Commission - Subway Asbestos Removal -
Program Requirements
The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the
recommendation in the following transmittal letter (July 14, 1998) from the Budget
Committee:
Recommendation:
The Budget Committee on July 13, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and
Priorities Committee, and Council, the adoption of the recommendation embodied in the
transmittal letter (June 17, 1998) from the Urban Environment and Development
Committee.
Background:
The Budget Committee on July 13, 1998, had before it a transmittal letter (June 17, 1998)
from the Urban Environment and Development Committee.
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(Transmittal letter dated June 17, 1998, addressed to the
Budget Committee from the
Urban Environment and Development Committee)
Recommendation:
The Urban Environment and Development Committee on June 15 and 16, 1998
recommended to the Budget Committee, the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee,
and Council the adoption of Recommendation No. (5) embodied in the communication
(May 21, 1998) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission, viz:
"(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."
Background:
The Urban Environment and Development Committee had before it a communication (May
21, 1998) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission advising that the
Toronto Transit Commission (Commission) on May 20, 1998, approved the following
recommendations contained in report No. (33), entitled "Subway Asbestos Removal -
Program Requirements":
"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 $364,000.00 for a scaffold workcar
under program 4.23 Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles, for a total estimated final cost of
$3,781,000.00 (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 $140,000.00 for the overhaul of four
workcars under program 4.22 Rail Non-Revenue Vehicle Overhaul, for a total estimated
final cost of $7,143,000.00 (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."
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(Communication dated May 21, 1998, from
the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission.)
At its meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 1998, the Commission considered the attached
report, entitled "Subway Asbestos Removal - Program Requirements."
The Commission approved the Recommendation contained in the above report, as listed
below:
"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 $364,000.00 for a scaffold workcar
under program 4.23 Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles, for a total estimated final cost of
$3,781,000.00 (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 $140,000.00 for the overhaul of four
workcars under program 4.22 Rail Non-Revenue Vehicle Overhaul, for a total estimated
final cost of $7,143,000.00 (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."
The foregoing is forwarded to City of Toronto Council for the necessary approval, as
detailed in the report.
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(Toronto Transit Commission Report No. 33, entitled
Subway Asbestos Removal - Program Requirements
from its meeting of May 20, 1998)
Recommendations:
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 $364,000.00 for a scaffold workcar
under program 4.23 Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles, for a total estimated final cost of
$3,781,000.00 (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 $140,000.00 for the overhaul of 4
workcars under program 4.22 Rail Non-Revenue Vehicle Overhaul, for a total estimated
final cost of $7,143,000.00 (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
$10,000,000.00 subject to the following changes in methodology from the pilot project.
(a)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; and
(b)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 $140,000.00.
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.
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Appendix A
Program 4.23 - Purchase Rail Non-Revenue Vehicles
City Project No. 490
Summary of Project Approval
Note:Revised program requirements for 1998 are within the existing City Approvals for No.
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 $3,781.00.
City Project No. 480
Note:Additional City Project Approvals are required in 1998 for the revised program
requirements for No. 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
$4,007.00.
City Project No. 611
Note:Additional City Project Approvals are required in 1998 of $504 thousand for the
revised program requirements for No. 480 and No. 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 $15,812.00.
