VAUGHAN, April 1, 2009 — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was joined today by York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch to announce that the Government of Ontario will be providing $1.4 billion over the next five years to fund the expansion of Viva rapid transit. During an event held at the Caldari Operations Centre in Vaughan, Chairman Fisch applauded the Ontario Government for making such a significant funding commitment to public transit in York Region.
“This is great news for all those who live, work and travel through York Region,” said Chair Fisch. “The funding will not only enable us to make the Viva system faster and more convenient, it will help build a seamless transit system and create jobs when we need it most, right now.”
The funding will not only enable us to make the Viva system faster and more convenient, it will help build a seamless transit system. The funding will be used to build rapidways along Highway 7, Yonge Street and across Davis Drive to the Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket. Rapidways are special centre lanes reserved exclusively for Viva rapid transit vehicles, allowing them to move effortlessly past traffic congestion. Construction of the rapidways is expected to begin in the fall of this year.
The rapidways are part of VivaNext, a long-term plan for a modern, efficient rapid transit network providing connectivity within York Region and between the City of Toronto and the Regions of Peel and Durham.
VivaNext also includes an 8.6 km extension of the Spadina subway line from Downsview Station in the City of Toronto to Vaughan Corporate Centre in the City of Vaughan and a 6.8 km extension of the Yonge subway line from Finch Station in the City of Toronto to the Richmond Hill Centre in the Town of Richmond Hill.
For more information on vivaNext and York Region Rapid Transit, please visit www.vivayork.com
For more information on The Regional Municipality of York, please visit www.york.ca
Media Contact:
Dale Albers, Chief Communications Officer, York Region Rapid Transit
Phone: 905 886-6767 Ext. 2250 or Cell 416 206-3716
Email: dale.albers@york.ca