News Archive
Parts of demolished homes live on
Posted Jun 10, 2010, 8:34 amAmanda Persico of yorkregion.com writes that vivaNext “plans to leave little or no garbage in its path.” In a joint venture with Habitat for Humanity York Region, 85% of building materials from homes slated for demolition will be reused and recycled, instead of ending up in a landfill. The removal of these buildings will make room for the construction of rapidways along Davis Drive in Newmarket.
York's bus-way plan rolls again
Posted Jun 7, 2010, 4:34 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes about construction resuming on vivaNext rapid transit lanes along Enterprise Drive in Markham, after work stopped for the winter months. The dedicated bus lanes are scheduled for completion in November 2010. "The completion of this project will bring improved transit for the people of Markham," said Markham-Unionville MPP Michael Chan.
Metrolinx releases new funding schedule for Viva projects
Posted May 19, 2010, 10:42 pmA 680News release highlights the proposed new funding schedule for the vivaNext rapidway projects.
Transit ridership keeps rolling
Posted May 7, 2010, 5:42 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes about YRTViva’s record-setting ridership for the month of March, and reviews some factors contributing to this notable growth.
Your City My City: High expectations in Markham
Posted Mar 26, 2010, 4:35 pmPhinjo Gombu of The Toronto Star writes about plans to transform Langstaff Gateway into “a revolutionary, transit-dependent live-work community in Markham.” The vivaNext rapidways and Yonge subway extension play a central role in the future vision of this community. These connections will make the Richmond Hill-Langstaff transit hub “the most important in the GTA after Union Station” and are critical to achieving smart growth goals.
York Region approves streetscaping improvements to Gamble Road and 19th Avenue in Town of Richmond Hill
Posted Feb 18, 2010, 2:39 pmA York Region media release highlights the streetscape enhancements approved for Gamble Road and 19th Avenue in the Town of Richmond Hill. York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch says that “streetscaping improvements represent investments in our communities” while Richmond Hill’s Mayor David Barrow looks forward to the community engagement that pedestrian-friendly streets will encourage. VivaNext will bring further streetscape enhancements to the community at the Yonge Street intersection of Gamble Road.
Public transit use up 33% in York
Posted Feb 4, 2010, 3:29 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes about the increase in transit ridership in York Region from 2004 to 2009, using key statistics to highlight YRTViva’s success. The new head of YRTViva, Richard Leary, believes that the next phase of Viva will help to change the public’s perception about transit. He believes that “York Region is miles ahead of everyone else” in terms of creating a transit-friendly suburban culture.
Dedicated bus lanes get green light
Posted Dec 16, 2009, 3:29 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that Viva’s blue vehicles will soon make stops in a transit-first community in Markham that will house up to 40,000 people. This “is the development of a city centre,” said Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti to everyone who gathered on Monday to mark the launch of rapidway construction along Enterprise Drive. Metrolinx vice-chair Peter Smith called this project “a very important first step.”
York Region to get 37km more of dedicated lanes
Posted Dec 16, 2009, 3:17 pmSouth Asian Focus writes that construction is underway on 37 kilometres of rapidways. The dedicated lanes will provide faster and more reliable service as well as creating about 11,000 jobs. The first section will be complete by the end of 2010 and full service will be available by the end of 2013.
Vaughan Subway station needs name
Posted Dec 11, 2009, 3:05 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that the TTC will review the preliminary design for the station that will be at the newly named Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Because Vaughan changed the name of this area from Vaughan Corporate Centre, the TTC is still deciding what the official station name will be. While TTC will run the subway, York Region will run the 18-bay bus terminal at the station.
Software glitch delays York’s Presto launch
Posted Dec 2, 2009, 2:56 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that York Region residents will be able to start using the Presto fare card system Jan. 17, 2011. Recently some Oakville-area residents began using the card as part of a pilot project. The system will allow for seamless transfers between the various transit systems in the GTA by simply using a single card that can be reloaded online or at machines.
Subway will take 30 million car trips off road
Posted Nov 30, 2009, 11:34 amStefania Lamacchia of yorkregion.com writes about the groundbreaking for the Spadina subway extension. Dignitaries from all three levels of government were present with gold-coloured shovels in hand to mark the beginning of construction on the $2.6 billion project. The 8.6-kilometre extension into Vaughan will eliminate an estimated 30 million car trips from Toronto and York Region roads annually.
Subway to 'transform' GTA
Posted Nov 28, 2009, 2:44 pmTess Kalinowski of The Toronto Star writes about how by 2015 a subway will be running underneath the ground where dignitaries from all three levels of government dug in their ceremonial shovels. It will be the first subway to cross over into York Region and the first to allow riders to travel on a TTC vehicle into York Region for a single fare. "This is really beginning to transform Toronto,” said TTC chair Adam Giambrone. “It's not just about moving people from A to B, it's about transforming neighbourhoods.”
Subway's chugging: Spadina extension shovel ready
Posted Nov 28, 2009, 2:40 pmAntonella Artuso of the Toronto Sun writes that construction has begun for the first subway that will cross over into York Region. Toronto Mayor David Miller said the project is “an unprecedented example of co-operation between the two cities” and Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said it will remove 30 million car trips annually from Toronto and York Region roads.
Work on the subway extension from Downsview to Vaughan officially began
Posted Nov 27, 2009, 2:28 pmKevin Misener of 680news reports that dignitaries from all three levels of government were on hand to break ground on a project that will fill in another piece of the city’s transit puzzle. “Having the subway terminating in the City of Vaughan is a great big start to a new downtown core," said Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson. The extension will have six new stops including one at York University. Tunnel digging is expected to begin next year and people will be able to start riding the line by 2015.
Spadina subway headed to York
Posted Nov 27, 2009, 2:22 pmAllison Hanes of the National Post writes that dignitaries from all three levels of government broke ground today on the Spadina subway extension that will go to York University and into York Region. Tunnel boring will begin in the summer of 2010 on a new link between the mainline and the Wilson Subway yard. Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson called the line a “seamless” connection between the “city above Toronto” and downtown.
407 subway station slowly taking shape
Posted Nov 15, 2009, 12:12 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that “the sky’s the limit” for the first subway station that will be entirely in York Region. The Hwy. 407 station will be between Jane and Black Creek just south of Hwy. 407 and will feature large windows that will bring light into the concourse and platform levels. Because there are no columns along the platform, riders will get an open view up to the sky.
Markham calls for action on subway
Posted Nov 4, 2009, 11:15 amDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that the Markham Town Council is discussing how to keep the Yonge subway extension project moving forward. Council passed a motion “asking the federal government to step up to the plate with funding.”
TTC board set to approve design for York subway station
Posted Oct 28, 2009, 11:22 amDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that the TTC board will approve the conceptual design for the Spadina line’s Steeles West station. The station will have a futuristic look including a light cone that will bring light down to the concourse and platform levels. It will also have bus bays for YRTViva and TTC and 1,900 parking spots.
Metrolinx, region still working on subway extension goal
Posted Sep 16, 2009, 2:40 pmDavid Fleischer of yorkregion.com writes that York Region continues to work on the Yonge subway extension plans so that everything will be ready when funding is granted. Metrolinx recently released a benefits case analysis showing that bus rapid transit would not meet the corridor’s capacity demands in the future. A firm may be hired to engage upper levels of government and lead a strategic campaign on the project.
Subway tunnelling to begin next year
Posted Aug 7, 2009, 11:53 amJoe Fantauzzi of yorkregion.com writes that Lovat, a Toronto-based company, was awarded a $58.4 million contract to build four tunnel boring machines. The machines will be used in extending the Spadina subway to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7. The first two machines will be delivered in 2010 with tunneling to begin shortly afterward.
Transit hubs to shape urban pocket in Markham
Posted May 25, 2009, 9:23 amChristopher Hume of The Toronto Star writes that an influential architect and planner from San Francisco will be working on the design of the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre. Peter Calthorpe said this job is "the highest manifestation of transit-oriented development I have been involved in." The centre will be a new-style urban community with mixed-use development and pedestrian-friendly areas all organized around transit.
Yonge subway extension steams ahead
Posted May 11, 2009, 10:24 amPhilip Alves of Vaughan Today writes that the “proposed Yonge subway extension cleared a major hurdle” by completing the environmental assessment this week. The project, which has already been approved by the Environment Minister was just filed with the Environment Ministry. "The Yonge subway extension is a major step closer to reality," said York Region Chair Bill Fisch.
Streamlined study gives go-ahead to subway
Posted May 6, 2009, 2:07 pmYorkregion.com writes that the Yonge subway extension is the first project to complete the Province’s new environmental assessment process for transit projects. The statement of completion was filed Monday with the Ministry of the Environment. Before projects could spend two to three years completing the process, but now the province recently implemented a new process that only takes six months.
McGuinty government got investment in Viva right
Posted Apr 8, 2009, 9:22 pmAn editorial in the King Township Sentinel says that the province’s decision to invest $1.4 billion in Viva rapidways “can only be viewed as good news.” It will be good for reducing congestion and strain on the roads.
Transit projects include line along Eglinton to airport
Posted Apr 1, 2009, 12:14 pmRob Ferguson of The Toronto Star writes that Premier Dalton McGuinty announced $9 billion worth of funding for four new transit projects in the Greater Toronto Area including the rapidways in York Region. The other three projects must first complete the environmental approvals process meaning that the rapidways are the only project that could see a construction start by the end of the year.
Region buys slivers next to Highway 7
Posted Mar 7, 2009, 12:12 pmKeely Grasser of yorkregion.com writes that York Region is purchasing small, narrow sections of land along Highway 7 “to build transit-only lanes and put the rapid back into rapid transit.” Regional Councilor Gordon Landon says that “most properties won’t be affected too much” as the street is widened to make room for two additional lanes for the rapidways.
York Region Viva shares 8-year plan
Posted Feb 23, 2009, 12:13 pmSing Tao newspaper writes that vivaNext projects will provide York Region residents with faster and more convenient connections. The new projects are expected to cut travel time by 40% and should commence shortly after the province announces its budget.
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