A government-led infrastructure project on the scale of CABR will usually take more than ten years to complete (if it ever gets done), comprising:
- 1-2 years of feasibility studies and planning
- 1-2 years of design
- 3 years plus of permitting
- 1-2 years of procurement
- 5-6 years of construction
Total 11- 15 years
This long time frame creates huge risks of uncertainty, changes, cost inflation, changes in interest rates and financing terms and added costs of management and supervision. The communities affected have to deal with uncertainty and disruption and have to wait much longer to receive the benefits.
A key advantage of the proposed P3 is timely completion which in turn dramatically reduces costs and risks:
- Feasibility work is complete and design and permitting can proceed in parallel over 18 months using the CPKC brownfield rail alignment.
- Construction and commissioning will take three years meaning CABR can be in service by 2028 compared to mid 2030’s under government led construction.