This competition recognizes the contributions to the engineering profession and local community by an organization that has completed an outstanding project of a technical nature within the past year. It’s no secret that rapid transit projects bring better options for fast and convenient travel, but they also include major upgrades to roads above and below the ground. This includes updated utilities and infrastructure and beautiful streetscapes for pedestrians and cyclists – benefitting communities for generations to come.
EllisDon Capital Inc. and Coco Paving Inc. (EDCO), YRRTC’s constructor, also came in 2nd place for the Highway 7 West and Bathurst & Centre rapidway projects in Vaughan.
Both rapid transit projects were recognized as the top winners in the Large Project category for the 2020 Engineering Project of the Year Award, highlighting the important investment made in rapid transit infrastructure.
We’re also pleased to share that a number of communications pieces have received awards from the Hermes Creative Awards – an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals. Judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), YRRTC was awarded:
Platinum Award for YRRTC Incident Management Protocol – Public Relations/Communications | Strategic Programs | Crisis Communications Plan
Gold Award for Support Local campaign – Public Relations/Communications | Strategic Programs | Pandemic Response
We’re thankful to have our commitment to excellence recognized by top industry professionals. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of staff and partners alike to deliver on the transit vision that is transforming communities. For more info, visit our awards & recognition webpage.
Last year was unprecedented and came with challenges for everyone, everywhere. There were achievements too though, and those are worth more than a mention. Working with our partners, at YRRTC we delivered 17 kilometres of rapid transit in 2020, completing the first phase of the Viva bus rapidway network that includes 33.7 kilometres of dedicated rapidways along York Region’s busiest corridors. These projects are more than just transit – they are complete street rebuilds above and below the ground. As of the end of 2020, the rapidways, combined with some transit facilities and a bus terminal, have brought $2.7 billion in assets that will benefit communities in York Region for generations to come.
Over the past years, YRRTC has been recognized and received awards for innovative design and technology elements of the Viva bus rapid transit projects. Many factors contribute to the success of our projects – engineering, urban design, architecture, construction, partnerships and collaboration – but there’s one element that isn’t always mentioned: Communications. Our communications initiatives support each project and keep stakeholders and the community informed in new and creative ways.
YRRTC is honoured to have recently been recognized for our digital communications, with multiple awards from AVA Digital Awards including:
The AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design and production of digital communication. Work ranges from digital campaigns to audio and video production to website development to social media engagement to mobile marketing. The Award is judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), whose judges have a reputation for accuracy, fairness and credibility.
We’re proud to deliver creative excellence in support of these complex infrastructure projects!
Crews are in the process of painting bike boxes on Highway 7 West and Bathurst & Centre in Vaughan, as well as on Yonge Street in Newmarket. Bike boxes [identified by their green paint] are spaces allocated at signalized intersections along the rapidway corridors that allow cyclists to safely wait for a signal when turning left. This is instead of waiting in the left-turn lane, making the rapidway corridors safer and more welcoming for cyclists. Here’s pretty much everything you’d want to know about them.
The purpose of a bike box
Bike boxes provide a safe left-turn option for cyclists riding in the bike lane. Rather than having to cross two or three lanes of busy traffic to reach left-turn lanes, or waiting on the sidewalk, the bike box is a safe, designated waiting area that’s tucked into the boulevard at the corner of a signalized intersection – just for bikes. Simply put, the bike box offers cyclists a place to wait for the light to change.
Here’s how they work
Cyclists wanting to turning left from, say for example, Highway 7, will proceed through the signalized east/west intersection in the bike lane. Then they simply stop in the bike box, turn their bike to the left, and wait for the next north/south signal. Once the light changes, they can cross Highway 7 along with other north/south traffic.
To accommodate bike box painting, crews close curb lanes and right-turn lanes at each intersection. Then, like bike lanes around intersections, they’re painted green with special bike lane markings to clearly identify them. Lanes remain closed for up to three days to allow the street bond to completely dry.
We’re excited to be providing these features for York Region cyclists, and know that they help to make the rapidway corridors more welcoming to all travellers, no matter how they choose to get around.
This protected path
for pedestrians and cyclists has signalized intersections at each end to enable
safe crossings back to the sides of Highway 7.
Separated from traffic
and transit vehicles by concrete barrier walls on either side, the multi-use
path is wide enough for two-way travel. By bringing travellers away from the
outside of the bridge, as well as the busy ramps of Highway 400, the new
multi-use path improves regular traffic flow, and crucially for pedestrians and
cyclists offers an effective, convenient solution as people make connections to
and from the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and throughout Vaughan and York
Region.
While centre-road
travel for cyclists and pedestrians is a new concept here in York Region,
they’ve been built in the U.S. and were originally inspired by the Sands
Street Bikeway in Brooklyn, NY.
Integrated with the
City of Vaughan’s bike lane program and York Region’s network of bike lanes,
the multi-use path connects with raised bike lanes and wider pedestrian
sidewalks west of Highway 400, from Famous Avenue to Bruce Street [raised bike
lanes opening in 2020], and with bike lanes already constructed on Highway 7 from
Edgeley Boulevard/Interchange Way to Bowes Road/ Baldwin Avenue, as well as up
Millway Avenue to the subway and the newly opened SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
As rapidway construction on Yonge
Street in Richmond Hill progresses, dedicated bus lanes and vivastations are
being built in the centre lanes.
This means the way that signalized
intersections work is changing – especially if you’re a pedestrian, or a driver
turning left or wanting to make a U-turn.
Here’s what to watch for:
Dedicated lefts and U-turns now
happen at intersections
Signalized intersections will now
have a dedicated left-turn traffic signal. This means that drivers can make
left turns or U-turns only when the left-turn signal is illuminated. The
protected movement through the intersection makes it safe and efficient to get you
where you’re going.
To reach driveways mid-block
To get to driveways located
mid-block on the other side of the road, drivers will no longer be able to turn
left between intersections; instead drivers should make a U-turn at the next
signalized intersection.
Making a left at an intersection is
safer than cutting across multiple lanes of traffic, and ensures that drivers
trying to turn left get their turn, and don’t have to rush through a yellow.
Changes for pedestrians
The new intersections will be wider
with more lanes and new traffic signals. At intersections that will have
vivastations, pedestrians may cross the road in two stages if unable to get to
the other side during the first signal. A countdown signal will indicate how
many seconds pedestrians have left to safely cross the street.
Check out the video, “Rapidway
intersections: safe journeys” for safe navigation of the new
intersections for pedestrians, cyclists, driver and transit riders.
Have you
ever seen a group of people with white hard-hats walking along a rapidway
construction site, although it seems like there isn’t much construction
happening? Have you ever wondered, “How many people does it take to look in a
hole?” or, “Why is everyone just standing around and talking?”
Well, we hope
to help answer those questions.
getting a closer look
The
constructor schedules regular walk-downs of each of our rapidway construction
projects – from one end to another – in order to closely review completed, ongoing
and upcoming work. Different walks have different purposes, including safety
monitoring, the quality of work in progress and the quality of completed
elements to ensure everything works as intended once the rapidway opens for
service.
That’s not
all. As we get closer to a project’s completion and opening for service, the
number of walk-downs goes way up to ensure that everything has been built
according to plan in order to ensure that projects can be opened for service to
the public. Here are some answers to the two biggest questions about walk-downs:
why so many people?
Each team
member on a walk-down has a specific job. And depending on the purpose of the walk-down,
a variety of people with different expertise may participate.
To review
an area before a major work operation, for example, the walk-down team may
include a vivaNext Project Engineer, who would ensure that the work plan is
accurate to engineering drawings; and the Community Liaison, who communicates
the impacts to businesses, residents and other stakeholders.
It may
also include an Engineer from York Region’s Transportation Services, who inspects
the roadway elements – such as street lighting, sidewalks, boulevards, traffic
signals, pavement markings, and signs – and ensures compliance with lane
closure permits;
Safety
Managers ensure that the work plan is safe. And Supervisors from the Constructor
and sub-contractor companies take everyone through the work plan and operation.
In some
cases, municipal and regional staff will join us on inspections– for example, with
water main connections, vivastation construction, paving, and red asphalt in
the rapidways; and for works near Highway 400, provincial Ministry staff may
join the walk-down.
what are they looking for during a walk-down?
Participants
are looking at a variety of factors based on their role within the project team,
and depending on the particular purpose of the walk-down.
Some
participants are specifically looking for possible errors in construction – in new
pavement, installed signs, storm sewers, and other quality concerns to be
addressed.
All items are
documented and while some items may need to be fixed immediately, others will be
addressed during the contractor’s warranty period. Other participants look for
how the operation will unfold and the impact to the community, such as accessibility
for pedestrians. Follow-up walk-downs are then scheduled to review progress on
documented items.
Each
participant on a walk-down plays an important role in order to deliver
high-quality rapidway projects throughout York Region.
STAYING INFORMED
Make sure
to connect with us on social media to receive regular construction updates and
stay in touch! The
best way to stay informed about our construction projects is to sign-up for
email notifications at vivanext.com/subscribe, and to follow us on our
social media platforms.
Despite wavering weather from Mother Nature, crews have been busy with a number of work activities across each of our construction projects in Richmond Hill, Newmarket and Vaughan.
If you’ve been out driving or walking along these projects, you
may feel that construction can sometimes be messy, chaotic, and never-ending. Although
all this work may appear identical, there are actually a number of construction
activities underway, many of which require specialized crews. But, before work
starts on each of rapid transit projects, there’s careful planning that goes on
behind the scenes.
vivastations
There are many steps in building each of the iconic vivastations
across our projects, all which are carefully planned to ensure work can get
completed efficiently, while ensuring everyone – pedestrians, motorists and
construction workers – remain safe. When complete, transit users will be able
to enjoy new technology and innovative features that each vivastation offers.
Building a vivastation is sort of like putting together the pieces
to a puzzle. Each step carefully lays the foundation for the vivastation,
prioritizing consistency, quality, and safety.
As the year progresses and work on our vivastations begins to
unfold, keep your eyes out for each of the following steps that go into building
a vivastation!
1. Excavation, caisson drilling, and finishing
After the existing asphalt and road base is removed in preparation
for construction, circular caissons are drilled 8 to 10 meters (26 to 32 feet)
into the ground. Caissons are reinforced concrete columns placed below ground
that act as the foundation for platforms. First, a large drill is used to
create a deep hole for the column. Next, a steel rebar cage is placed in the
drilled hole. Finally the hole is filled in with concrete.
2. Platforms, barrier walls are formed, poured, and cured
Once the caissons are installed, the concrete station platform and
barrier walls will start to take shape. A concrete slab reinforced with steel
is built on top of caissons to serve as the platform for vivastations. Concrete
for the barrier walls are then formed, which provide delineation between the vivastation
and live traffic, making them a key safety feature of every vivastation.
Prior to the installation of the barrier walls, electrical conduits
are placed within the steel rebar cage. Plywood
forms are used as a mold for the walls and are placed around the rebar. Concrete
is poured into the forms to create the barrier walls. Once the concrete is
hardened, the forms are removed and the barrier walls are smoothed out to
remove any surface imperfections.
3. Steel erection
A steel skeleton – prefabricated offsite and transported by trucks
– is then erected on the concrete barrier walls. Prior to delivery to the site,
the steel canopy is painted with a resin coating, in a champagne bronze colour.
These structures are raised into place by a large crane with
careful maneuvering and precision. Lanes are often reduced around the
vivastation during this procedure to ensure pedestrians, motorists and crews
remain safe.
4. Glass
installation
Each of our vivastations use tempered glass, which contains properties
that strengthen the glass, ultimately creating a safe and durable structure
that covers the exterior of the vivastation.
The glass is pre-cut and tinted prior to delivery to the site.
Construction crews then carefully place the glass onto the canopy, creating our
beautiful, signature blue vivastations.
5. Tile
work on platform
Tile work is then done on the platforms, including tactile tile
work at every vivastation. These tactile tiles are either cast iron or porcelain
plates – depending on the construction project – that act as a textured ground
surface indicator. These tiles are able to assist pedestrians and passengers
who are visually impaired effectively navigate the surrounding environment.
Similar to our bus stops, we install directional tiles at every
vivastation platform. Directional tiles are brown, textured tiles that help to assist
visually impaired pedestrians and passengers in determining accurate direction
of travel.
6.
Electrical and IT systems
The installation of electrical and IT (Intelligent Transportation)
systems are spread out throughout the whole construction process. However, most
of this work happens close to when the vivastations will be completed. Security
and PA systems, emergency call boxes (ECB), lights, and motion-activated
heaters within the enclosed waiting area are installed, along with PRESTO/VIVA
fare vending machines.
7. Fixture
installation
Fixtures common to every vivastation are installed. These include,
but are not limited to, garbage and recycling bins, handrails, doors, signs,
and benches, signaling that the rapidway will soon be open for service.
building
transit for the future
It takes time to build transit that will have a lasting impact on
generations to come. Our construction projects are about more than just
dedicated lanes for bus rapid transit – they’re about connecting people and
places, and providing complete streets for the entire community to benefit
from. Complete streets provide economic, environmental and social benefits that
lead to an overall improvement in quality of life.
Transit riders, residents and businesses are best served when
transit works as an integrated system. It’s crucial for transit services to
work together as a well-planned network, connecting different modes of
transportation and destinations. And we’re proud that our vivastations play an
integral role in connecting the community in a faster, more efficient way.
STAYING
INFORMED
Make sure to connect with us on social media to receive regular
construction updates and stay in touch! The best way to stay informed about our construction
projects is to sign-up for email notifications at vivanext.com/subscribe, and to follow us on our social media platforms.
Ready for the crowning touch? The new SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal comes with a mesmerizing pièce de résistance – a sweeping, curved wooden roof, as beautiful as it is functional.
Reminiscent of West Coast style, the horseshoe-shaped roof shelters the outdoor bus stations in beautiful elegance. A fluidity breathes life into the design, curving in a slight v-shape from the outside in, and rising up at the wingtips and the saddle. You can almost feel the motion, very fitting for a bus terminal with YRT/Viva services branching out across York Region.
an intricate jigsaw puzzle
The simple elegance of the roof belies the complexity of its creation. The wood pieces need to look curved, but they are flat. Custom-cut to the architect’s design, they fit together with the steel substructure, which was also designed in custom pieces.
It’s like a very complicated jigsaw puzzle. Every section is numbered and assembled with exact precision. When the flat pieces fit together, they create the appearance of a curved roof. High-strength glued-laminated timber beams support the roof, running vertically and also lengthwise.
Not only does the wood look stunning, it was a cost-effective choice and is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified to York Region standards. When it’s finished, it will be stain-coated with intumescent fire-retardant material.
a showstopper for a new downtown
The result is an eye-catching landmark – a roof that draws the eye and a terminal where you can pass the time in style. After all, SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal is not your run-of-the-mill bus station. As part of the vibrant, new downtown flourishing at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, this bus station needs to look the part.
Set to open in 2018, the Terminal will complete the transit powerhouse at the VMC: subway, rapidway and YRT/Viva terminal, working together to move you, faster and easier than ever before.
Building transit infrastructure comes with some mandatory requirements, and not all of them are pretty, at least not to start. Take a vent shaft, an absolute necessity for the subway to vent air and for fire safety. One of these vent shafts had to be located right in the middle of our new SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal.
design becomes experience
Who says vent shafts have to be ugly? At vivaNext, we know that the design of a place becomes the experience. SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal is a new breed of bus terminal – beautiful, airy and open, not at all like the stereotypical bus terminal of yesteryear.
In the middle of this, the eyesore of a square, unattractive vent shaft simply would not do. Since the vent shaft was already the centrepoint, we transformed it into the centerpiece, designing it as an artistic element of the bus station.
catching the light
The vent shaft will still be there, masked by a far more elegant exterior. Flat, stainless steel metal panels punched through with a flower pattern were fastened together to create a curved shape, almost diamond-like in appearance.
In the sunshine, it will catch the light. At night, it will be lit up from the inside. Through it all, the air from the subway will vent, serving its purpose, and proving that, yes, vent shafts can be beautiful.
