FAQs

The growing need for rapid transit in York Region

What is rapid transit?: Rapid transit is defined as a public transit system that provides fast, frequent service, is able to move a lot of people, and runs on its own dedicated tracks or lanes. Examples of rapid transit include subways, light rail transit, and bus rapid transit.
What is bus rapid transit?: Bus rapid transit provides fast, frequent service on dedicated lanes using buses, which allow more flexibility than rail-based rapid transit services. Bus rapid transit provides a high level of service and is both less costly and faster to build than rail.
Why does York Region need rapid transit?: More and more people are coming to York Region every day, to live, to work, and to shop. This growth will bring with it many benefits, including more choices for housing, employment and recreation – but it also means our roads are getting increasingly congested. World-wide experience shows that the top priority to reduce gridlock is to have a great rapid transit network in place, making it easier for people to get around without needing to get in a car.
What is Metrolinx?: Metrolinx is the provincial transportation authority for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area created to champion, develop and implement an integrated transportation system that enhances prosperity, sustainability and quality of life

Taking viva to the next level - vivaNext

What is vivaNext?: VivaNext is the name for York Region’s exciting plan to bring true rapid transit to York Region. The vivaNext network of bus rapid transit, subway extensions and light rail transit will create a rapid transit system that will make it easy to travel in and around York Region and connect to other transit systems across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Who’s leading vivaNext?: The vivaNext projects are managed by York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC) in collaboration with our funding partners. YRRTC is wholly owned by The Regional Municipality of York and works with private sector partners who provide professional engineering, design and construction services.
Was there any public input to vivaNext?: Public input is very important to us. We have worked with the public throughout the Environmental Assessment stages of the vivaNext projects to hear your ideas, suggestions and concerns. Subsequent public open houses have also been held. If you were unable to attend any of these sessions, click here to view the presentations and materials presented.

About the proposed light rail transit lines

What is Light Rail Transit?: Light rail transit – often called LRT – is a form of rapid transit that uses updated streetcars or trolleys, often with multiple cars attached to create a train. Light rail transit is usually powered by electricity and operates on its own dedicated tracks. The "light" in light rail transit refers to the fact that it carries lighter loads than traditional "heavy" trains (e.g. freight or passenger trains).
Where are the proposed light rail transit lines located?: The vivaNext plan includes two proposed light rail transit lines running north-south along Don Mills Road/Leslie Street and Jane Street, from Steeles Avenue to Highway 7. Both are extensions of the light rail transit lines being planned by the City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission from the Bloor-Danforth subway north to the Toronto/York Region boundary at Steeles Avenue. As well, all the rapidways being built for bus rapid transit can be converted to light rail transit in the future as ridership increases.

About the rapidways in general

What are rapidways?: Rapidways are dedicated lanes in the centre of the road for viva vehicles only. In response to emergencies, police, fire and ambulance vehicles will be permitted to use the rapidways and cross the median at designated intervals. Stations will be placed every kilometre or so, with passenger access located at signalized intersections. Rapidways will be built along stretches of Davis Drive, Yonge Street and Highway 7, allowing viva vehicles to zip past congested traffic.
How much will the rapidways cost? Who is paying for them?: The rapidways are expected to cost a total of $2.8 billion. In April 2009, the Province of Ontario committed $1.4 billion to begin construction of several key segments.

Yonge Street rapidways

What happened to the Yonge Street rapidways from Steeles Avenue to Highway 7?: This segment has been put on hold while work on the Yonge subway extension continues and full funding commitments are sought from senior levels of government.

Davis Drive rapidways

How far will the Davis Drive rapidways extend?: The Davis Drive rapidways will run for 2.6 kilometres from Yonge Street to the Southlake Regional Health Centre. Viva service will continue in mixed traffic for another 2.3 kilometres to the GO commuter parking lot at Highway 404.
How many vivastations will be located along Davis Drive?: Davis Drive will have a total of five vivastations, with three located in the centre of the road along the rapidways and two located at the curb.
What will Davis Drive look like when the rapidways are completed?: We’re very excited about how the rapidways will help Newmarket achieve its vision for Davis Drive. The rapidways are part of the plan to make Davis Drive more pedestrian friendly and filled with interesting places to live, work, shop and play. Our design will include landscaped boulevards and medians, more welcoming pedestrian-friendly public spaces, and wider sidewalks with attractive benches and lighting.
How will the Davis Drive rapidways affect Newmarket’s heritage area?: Newmarket’s Heritage Area at Davis and Main Street is a special part of town, and we are working closely with Newmarket’s Heritage Committee to ensure our rapidways protect and enhance the area’s traditional appeal. For that stretch of the Davis Drive rapidways, heritage elements have been identified, and we will be designing special features to complement the historic look and feel of the surrounding buildings and streets.

Rapidways and viva service

Where do people get on and off viva?: Getting on and off viva will be easy and convenient, thanks to our large, comfortable vivastations. Vivastations will be located in the centre of the road beside the rapidways, accessed by safe crosswalks located at signalized intersections. And where viva runs in mixed traffic, access will continue to be at curb-side stations, just as it is now.
Will viva rapidway service be different from current Viva service?: Viva rapidway service will offer all the things you already love about viva – it will use comfortable, airy blue vehicles, and provide friendly, frequent service. The main difference you will notice is that viva rapidways will make it faster for you to get around and your travel time will be more consistent, with dedicated transit lanes zipping you past traffic congestion. And viva’s new rapidway stations will be loaded with great features, so even your short wait for the next vehicle will be pleasant and comfortable!
Will rapidways connect to other routes?: Absolutely! Viva rapidways are just one part of the YRT\Viva transit system, and the rapidway routes and stops have been planned to connect with many other transit services to make it easier for you to get around York Region and beyond. The rapidways will connect to YRT routes, GO, TTC, Brampton Transit and more.
When will I be able to ride viva on a rapidway?: Because each of our rapidway segments has its own schedule, the timing varies and is dependent on other factors, including capital funding approvals. At this time, we expect the first viva rapidway will be in service by 2014.
Will rapid transit cost extra?: Viva rapid transit will be part of the YRT\Viva transit family, so you won’t need a separate fare to get around.
How often will viva vehicles arrive along the rapidways?: Rapid transit means no long waits for your ride. Viva rapidway service will be at least as frequent as viva service is today, with vehicles arriving every five to ten minutes during weekday rush hours, and no less than every 15 minutes the rest of the time. As more people take viva, service will become even more frequent to meet the need.
Will viva and TTC get me to Union Station faster than GO Transit?: People in York Region are really fortunate that construction of the vivaNext plan will deliver a range of great transit options to choose from, depending on where you want to go. GO Transit is a great way to get all the way to downtown Toronto quickly, providing express service with few or no stops en route. If you need more flexibility in your route or timing, then viva and the TTC subway will be a great combination, with frequent service and stops every kilometre or so along the way. In fact, viva is planning integration with other transit systems as well, to provide passengers with even more convenient and reliable transit options across the entire Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Construction of the rapidways

When will construction of the rapidways begin and end?

Each rapidway has its own construction schedule, with segments being developed in phases. Here’s the timing for each segment:

As soon as a more detailed construction activity schedule is confirmed, we will be posting information on the construction updates pages. Completion dates for the remaining segments are beyond 2020, and will require additional funding.

What are the steps to build the rapidways?

There are many stages to building a rapidway. Carrying out the work in a way that minimizes disruption to businesses, the neighbouring community and local traffic, requires very detailed planning and careful sequencing. There are two main phases: early works and road construction.

Early works involves preparing the site for road construction. Main tasks include relocating hydro poles and lines, as well as other utilities to get them out of the way of construction; moving retaining walls to the edges of the new, wider road; and clearing land acquired for the road widening.

Road construction will involve widening the road; putting in new sidewalks and boulevards; paving; installing the new vivastations and platforms; and landscaping both the medians and boulevards.

What impact will there be on traffic while construction is underway?

Minimizing the impact of construction on businesses, the neighbouring community and local traffic is a top priority. We will be making every effort to keep traffic moving, and to make sure the local community and drivers know in advance when and where construction is going to take place. For up-to-date information, you can always check our construction map (coming soon).

How rapidways will fit into your community

How will traffic patterns change?: Rapidways will change how traffic will access properties and streets between intersections. Cars will make safe, easy left turns using the new left turn lanes and u-turn signals at intersections. With our design, there will still be the same number of lanes for regular traffic, plus the rapidways will run down the centre of the road for viva vehicles.
What is the impact of removing mid-block left turns?: Our traffic analysis shows that making turns using the new left and u-turn lanes at signalized intersections will be safer and easier than using a centre lane to make left turns mid-block.
How will our existing boulevards and sidewalks work with rapidways?: We are working with the local communities along the corridors to design the road, median, rapidways and boulevards so the overall character and appearance of each community is respected. Where appropriate, existing features will be maintained and/or enhanced. Streetscape improvements will include the addition of trees, plants, patterns, textures, lighting and street furniture.
What are you doing to prevent the unnecessary removal of trees? What happens to existing trees?: Overall, there will be an increase in the total number of trees and landscaped areas as a result of the implementation of the rapidways. Several steps will be taken to preserve existing trees, including taking inventories of the existing trees along rapid transit corridors, engaging an arborist to identify and evaluate the health of each tree and creating environments to ensure the survival of beautification efforts for years to come.
What about the protection of the Heritage Community?: Traffic congestion affects our heritage communities. We believe improved mobility is good for everyone. To preserve and protect heritage areas, we have designed viva to re-join mixed traffic where rapidways cannot be accommodated. For example, there are no rapidways planned through downtown Richmond Hill or Aurora.
How much property is being taken?: The amount of land required to construct the system varies by property along each rapid transit corridor. On Highway 7, the rapidways largely fit into the existing right of way already owned by the Region. Therefore, we are mostly acquiring small strips of land to accommodate the wider boulevard needed for sidewalks and landscaping along the corridor.
Will there be bike lanes on the rapid transit corridors?: Bike lanes identified in The Regional Cycling Master Plan will be constructed along the shoulders of the rapid transit corridors.
How will the police, fire and ambulance services work where there are rapidways?: Emergency service vehicles will be permitted to use the rapidways and cross the median at designated intervals, in order to improve their response time and bypass congestion. In addition, emergency services have been, and will continue to be, consulted throughout design and construction phases.
What are you doing to ensure that pedestrians can easily cross the street?: Well-marked crossings, combined with countdown signals, will help make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross at signalized intersections.
What will you do to help businesses?: Long-term, vivaNext will benefit everyone in York Region, but we know that building major infrastructure projects is disruptive for the local community while construction is underway. We are committed to working closely with members of the community, business owners and local groups to find ways to minimize the impact, maintain business access, and complete our work as quickly as possible. We will commit to telling business owners in advance what we’re doing, when it will happen, and how long it is expected to take. And to make sure we’re always available, we will have a Community Liaison working full-time to answer any questions or concerns.

About the Yonge subway extension

When will the Yonge subway extension open?: The Environmental Project Report for the Yonge subway extension (assessed under a new accelerated 6-month Environmental Assessment process) has been completed. We are now working with senior levels of government to secure full funding for this project.
What is the length of the Yonge subway extension?: The proposed Yonge subway extension from Finch to Highway 7 is approximately 6.8 kilometres.
How many stations will there be?: A number of stations were considered and evaluated. The recommendation is for the following six stations: Cummer/Drewry Station, Steeles Station, Clark Station, Royal Orchard Station, Langstaff/Longbridge Station and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal.
How much will it cost to build?: The cost of the Yonge subway extension is estimated to be over $2 billion in 2007 dollars, depending on the number of stations.

About the Spadina subway extension

What is the length of the Spadina subway extension?: The Spadina subway extension is 8.6 kilometres long, from its current terminus at Downsview Station in Toronto, up through York University, to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station at Highway 7 in Vaughan.
When will it open?: With funding committed from three levels of government, preliminary construction of the Spadina subway extension is now underway and is expected to be completed by 2015.
How will fares work when the subway crosses into York Region? Will I have to pay a second fare?: The fare policy for YRT\Viva and the TTC subway extension has not yet been determined. Metrolinx is working with transit agencies and municipal governments to implement PRESTO, an integrated fare policy based on travel distances. To learn more about PRESTO, you can visit www.prestocard.ca.
What about revitalization in conjunction with the construction of the subway?: Experience around the world has shown that new opportunities to live, work or play always pop up along new rapid transit routes. We have already seen this happening in York Region near vivastations, and we know that areas around new subway stations will be no different. Being near rapid transit makes housing, workplaces, shopping and restaurants more desirable and accessible. So, in addition to helping you get around, rapid transit will actually support the revitalization of our towns and cities in York Region.

Staying informed

How can I see what is being planned and share my thoughts?: Public input has been really important to the design of our projects, and we are committed to making it easy for you to share your thoughts, suggestions and questions. Exploring vivanext.com is your best way to keep up to date as our projects unfold, learn about exciting new developments, and read about upcoming public meetings. It’s also easy and convenient to get email updates simply by signing up here. We will let you know when something is being planned for your neighbourhood.

Click here to download a PDF version of the FAQs.

For comments and general enquiries, contact us at:

contactus@vivanext.com
905-886-6767

York Region Rapid Transit,
3601 Highway 7 East, 12th Floor
Markham, ON L3R 0M3.