The Ontario government has kicked off the search for a contractor to build the $1.2 billion Finch West LRT.

The 11-km. line will have 18 stops between Humber College and an underground terminus at the new Finch West station on the Spadina subway extension.

The government's public-private partnership agency, Infrastructure Ontario, has asked for interested companies to submit their qualifications for the design, build, finance and maintain contract. It also includes a maintenance and storage facility at Keele north of Finch.

But the winning bidder isn't expected to be announced until 2017. The transit line is supposed to be finished in 2021, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca announced in April.

Construction will begin next year, however, on utility relocations in the corridor, according to Metrolinx, the Liberal government's Toronto-area transportation agency.

While there has been some local opposition to the project, notably from councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, the LRT is being billed as a boost to the economic fortunes of the northwest corner of the city.

"The project will help transform Finch Ave. West's priority neighbourhood into a vibrant community, accessible to motorists, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians," according to joint press release from IO and Metrolinx on Tuesday.

The public-private partnership is similar to the one being used to build the $5.3 billion Eglinton Crosstown LRT and is expected to be used for the $1.6 billion Hurontario-Main LRT that will connect Mississauga and Brampton in 2022.

Another LRT on Sheppard Ave. East won't begin construction until Finch is complete.

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